In one of India’s holiest cities, Varanasi police have arrested 21 fake priests who were cheating and misbehaving with devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath temple. These imposters, posing as traditional pandas and pujaris, extorted large sums of money by offering ‘easy darshan’ and ‘VIP entry’ to unsuspecting pilgrims.
The arrests came after a spate of complaints from devotees and widespread concerns over harassment and financial fraud within the temple premises.
Devotees Tricked with ‘VIP Darshan’ Promises
Since the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the footfall of pilgrims has surged significantly, creating an opportunity for scammers to operate under the guise of religious service. These fake priests, often dressed in traditional attire to appear authentic, approached devotees with promises of hassle-free or special darshan experiences, claiming connections inside the temple administration.
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Once convinced, the devotees were asked to pay exorbitant amounts of money—often running into thousands of rupees—only to be later ignored or harassed. In some instances, the accused were reported to have misbehaved with visitors, including senior citizens and women, leading to public outrage.
Police Crackdown Led by ACP Atul Anjan Tripathi
Acting on multiple complaints, a special operation was launched under the leadership of Dashaswamedh Circle ACP Dr. Atul Anjan Tripathi. Two police teams were formed from the Dashaswamedh and Chowk police stations to carry out the mission.
As part of the campaign:
- 16 fake pandas were arrested from the Dashaswamedh area
- 5 more were nabbed from the Chowk area
“These individuals were running a well-organized scam, misleading devotees and tarnishing the sanctity of the temple environment. We will ensure that no devotee is exploited or harassed in Varanasi,” said ACP Tripathi.
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Police Pledge Safety for Pilgrims and Ongoing Vigilance
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by authorities in managing large-scale religious tourism, particularly in areas with high footfall and spiritual significance. Authorities now plan to tighten security around the temple premises, verify the credentials of priests and pandas, and possibly issue official identification cards for recognized personnel.
The Varanasi Police have also urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activity. ACP Tripathi assured that regular patrols and awareness drives will continue in and around the temple complex to prevent such frauds.
As Varanasi continues to welcome thousands of devotees daily, the police action is seen as a critical step in restoring devotee trust and temple integrity.