Operation Kalanemi Underway, 14 Fake Baba's Busted in Ongoing Uttarakhand Crackdown

Uttarakhand Police have arrested 14 individuals under Operation Kalanemi, a campaign targeting fraudulent spiritual leaders exploiting religious sentiments in the state known as ‘Devbhoomi’.

Launched in July 2025 under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directive, the initiative aims to curb imposters posing as sadhus who deceive devotees and engage in illegal activities, including forced religious conversions. Inspector General of Police (Crime and Law & Order) Nilesh Anand Bharne revealed that over 5,500 individuals have been questioned statewide, with preventive action taken against 1,182.

Of these, 14 arrests were made, including some Bangladeshi nationals. In Haridwar, 2,704 people were verified, leading to three arrests, while Dehradun saw 922 verifications and five arrests. Other districts, including Tehri, Pauri, Almora, and Nainital, are also under scrutiny. Earlier reports indicated 300 arrests by August after questioning 4,000 people, highlighting the operation’s scale.

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Notable cases include a Bangladeshi citizen posing as a Bengali doctor, Amit Kumar, in Selaqui for eight years using forged documents, and Ifraz Ahmed Lolu from Anantnag, Kashmir, arrested for masquerading as a wealthy Delhiite, Raj Ahuja, to deceive women.

Named after the demon Kalanemi from the Ramayana, who disguised himself as a sage to mislead Hanuman, the operation reflects Uttarakhand’s commitment to preserving its spiritual sanctity, especially during the Char Dham and Kanwar Yatras, when such frauds spike. Religious groups, including the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, have praised the crackdown, urging stricter verification measures like Aadhar checks to protect devotees and maintain the state’s sacred identity. 

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