What is Operation Kalanemi? 300 ‘fake' saints arrested in crackdown on religious fraud in Uttarakhand

Mint

16-07-2025

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched 'Operation Kalanemi' on July 10 in order to safeguard the dignity of true religious teachings and preserve harmony in the society. Over 300 'fake' individuals pretending to be saints have arrested by the police across six districts of Kumaon division.
Operation Kalanemi is a campaign focussing on to expose and eliminate fraudulent spiritual leaders who mislead the public under the guise of faith. It draws inspiration from the mythological figure Kalnemi, a demon who disguised himself as a saint to deceive others.
According to Dhami, "Just as the demon Kalnemi used disguise to deceive, many such 'Kalnemis' exist in today's society who are misusing religion to commit crimes. This is an effort to protect people's faith and ensure that only true spiritual guides lead our communities.'
Police have interrogated 1,250 suspects as the verification drive continues under Operation Kalanemi. 'Uttarakhand Police is conducting a continuous verification drive to interrogate the suspects. The police have questioned 1,250 suspects,' Inspector General of Uttarakhand, Nilesh Anand Bharne told ANI.
FIRs, preventive detentions, challans are among the actions taken by the state against them.
'These individuals were exploiting people's faith through superstition, deceit, and false claims of divine powers. They had no valid identity proof or documentation to support their credentials. During the campaign, suspects were taken into custody, their backgrounds verified, and necessary legal action was taken,' IANS quoted Inspector General (IG) Kumaon Riddhim Agarwal as saying.
He added that all police stations and outposts across Kumaon have been asked to be on alert and continue the action against suspicious figures disguising as spiritual leaders.
"Kalanemi was a character from the Ramayana who tried to obstruct Hanuman ji's path. Today, who is responsible for those in disguise, the fake godmen spreading superstition in society? Why has the need for Operation Kalanemi arisen? Those who create an environment for such deceitful people — who mislead others by spreading fear and superstition — must also be held accountable under Operation Kalanemi..." Congress leader and former Uttarakhand CM Rawat stated.
"I think this initiative is necessary, because nowadays many people are roaming around disguised as saints — like the demon Kaalnemi in disguise — and many of them belong to certain groups with malicious intent. Secondly, I must say that it is extremely difficult for any government to truly identify who is a genuine saint and who is a fake one, who is Kaalnemi in disguise and who is truly enlightened. Governments often fail to understand this subtle distinction..." Devacharya said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey appreciated the move but called on the Chief Minister to engage in self-reflection. 'Catching fake babas is commendable, but CM Dhami must also identify the 'Kalnemis' within his own party who are corrupt and creating social unrest,' he stated.
BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain mentioned, 'Many fake people are looting innocent believers with false promises and 'miracles.' This campaign will help unmask them.'
This drive comes at a time when Uttarakhand is seeing a rise in religious activity due to Kanwar Yatra and Char Dham Yatra. As holy towns like Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Kedarnath continue to draw large numbers of visitors, the government aims to protect both the security and the spiritual integrity of these gatherings.