Dehradun: As many as 23 fake babas, masquerading as sadhus/saints, were arrested in a day in Uttarakhand on Saturday.
As part of ‘Operation Kalanemi’, started in the state under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s instructions, police are on the lookout for those who cheat people in the name of religion by playing with their feelings and beliefs in Devbhoomi.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh, the arrested individuals were allegedly preying on people’s religious sentiments and duping unsuspecting victims.
“Under this campaign, the police took action in various police station areas on Saturday and arrested 23 fake babas roaming around in the guise of saints and sadhus. Among the arrested fake babas, 10 persons are residents of other states,” Singh told ANI.
“In line with the instructions, all station in-charges have been instructed to identify such persons in their respective police station areas, who disguise themselves as saints and mislead people, especially women and youth, and lure them to solve their personal or domestic problems and commit fraud with them, and take strict action against them,” Singh added.
More than 50 ‘kalanemis’ (fake babas) have been arrested so far in Uttarkhand. “Of them, there are 7-8 people who are from other religions dressed as babas. Such people are being identified, and action is being taken,” informed SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal.
#WATCH | Haridwar, Uttarakhand | SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal says, “Continuous action is being taken under Operation ‘Kalanemi’… So far, more than 50 such ‘Kalanemis’ (fake babas) have been arrested. Amongst them, there are 7-8 such people who are from other religions dressed as… https://t.co/2Dn8MKa4PP pic.twitter.com/N8bgBl4Uir
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025
Hailing Operation Kalanemi, a campaign against anti-social elements duping people under the pretext of ‘sanatan dharma’, Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad president Ravindra Puri said that strict action should be taken against people who cheat Kanwariyas.
“Kanwar is being conducted in Haridwar and we welcome this decision by the Chief Minister and thank him as well… The fake saints ask for money from and cheat Kanwariya and abuse those who refuse to give money; these people should be subjected to strict action… Our Chief Minister’s vision is a safe Uttarakhand, and doing justice to all the Kanwariya and all of us are with him,” Puri said.
