Fake Sadhus deceiving devotees by demanding goods at Kumbha Mela

Prayagraj – At the Kumbha Mela, impostors disguised as Sadhus are stopping devotees on the roads and requesting items such as slippers, sweaters, and blankets. They insist on not receiving money, and instead ask for these goods directly. Considering their demands to be genuine, many devotees willingly provide money to purchase the requested items. However, after receiving the money, these fraudulent Sadhus move to other locations and continue soliciting funds from different passersby. The number of such impostors deceiving devotees by posing as Sadhus and soliciting goods or money is steadily increasing at the Kumbha Mela.

Several shops at the Kumbha Mela sell Amul milk, and some of these fake Sadhus can be seen standing outside, asking customers to buy milk for them. Many devotees generously purchase three to four half-litre pouches and hand them over. However, these same impostors return later to solicit milk from other customers. Throughout the day, they accumulate multiple milk pouches from different devotees, turning this fraudulent practice into a regular means of income.