The menace of fake Babas in Uttar Pradesh has taken alarming proportions. Recent investigations have exposed men like Riyazuddin, posing as “Jinnat Baba,” and Saddam, reinventing himself as “Sameer Baba.” Both use rituals, cloves, and even medical fraud to trap devotees. Their targets are often women, desperate for cures or solutions to family problems.
Jinnat Baba: Loot in the Name of Maa Kali
In Maharajganj, Riyazuddin runs a flourishing darbar under the guise of Jinnat Baba. Located near a cremation ground and a temple, his court attracts over 400 visitors daily. He pretends to converse with Maa Kali, singing Bhojpuri hymns, altering his voice, and waving sticks in mock exorcisms.
Each visitor pays Rs 51 along with incense, camphor, and cloves. These items are later returned to shops, ensuring a profit for his aides. Reporters estimate he earns nearly Rs 48,000 a day, crossing Rs 14 lakh a month.
Despite his arrest in the past, Riyazuddin continues unchecked. Local BJP and Bajrang Dal leaders had complained, forcing police to halt his court’s expansion. Yet, his influence persists. His act is not just financial fraud—it is cultural deception, exploiting Hindu symbols while hiding behind a fake spiritual identity.
Sameer Baba: Fraud with Cloves and Collusion
In Kushinagar, Saddam operates as “Ajmer Wale Chamatkari Baba Sameer Sahib.” His daily crowd ranges from 200 to 300 people. His trick is simple: visitors buy cloves and water, which he “enchants.” For three days, he asks them to consume the items as treatment. This alone brings him up to Rs 5 lakh monthly.
However, Saddam’s scam goes deeper. He prescribes tablets worth Rs 1,500 for women seeking children and collaborates with pathology labs. Altaf Ansari, a local lab owner, issues manipulated test reports to reinforce Saddam’s claims. A Bhaskar reporter, posing as a patient, was told she had fertility issues. A genuine gynaecologist later confirmed her reports were normal.
Saddam’s history reveals a darker side. Once a local goon, his family has ties to cow smuggling and petty crime. Today, his fraud darbar thrives, exploiting desperation and eroding trust in genuine tradition.
A Crore-Earning Industry of Exploitation
The case does not end with these two men. Sahni in Kushinagar also runs healing courts, charging up to Rs 50,000 per ritual. His income reportedly touches Rs 15 lakh a month. Tricks with coins, staged exorcisms, and manipulated rituals are the common pattern.
Police admit that many of these practices cloak criminal activity. Yet, despite warnings, enforcement remains weak. Locals allege political patronage and fear shield these frauds.
Targeting Faith, Exploiting Women
A disturbing pattern emerges: these fake Hindu Babas deliberately use Hindu imagery to gain trust. Riyazuddin invokes Maa Kali while Saddam blends Islamic verses with ritual healing. This mix confuses devotees and ensures wider appeal. Women, especially those struggling with fertility or health, become the easiest prey.
Faith is twisted into fear, rituals into revenue.
The Need for Swift Action
If unchecked, fake Hindu Babas will continue to flourish, turning belief into a thriving industry of deceit. Faith should inspire, not enslave. Hindu traditions, revered for millennia, cannot be allowed to become tools for criminal exploitation.
Authorities must act swiftly. Every fake Baba exposed is one step toward protecting both faith and society.
