In Biraichi village of Maharajganj, Riyazuddin, popularly known as Jinnat Baba, had been drawing crowds of over 400 people daily. His darbar is located near a cremation ground and a Hindu temple, where he pretends to converse with Maa Kali. He often changes his voice to ‘reply’ to his own questions, sings Bhojpuri bhajans, and waves sticks in the name of exorcism.
Locals say he charges Rs 51 from every visitor, along with incense sticks, camphor, and cloves, which are later returned to shopkeepers for money. Reporters found he earned around Rs 48,400 in a single day, adding up to over Rs 14.5 lakh a month.
Police halted construction of his massive court after BJP and Bajrang Dal leaders complained. His father admitted he was recently jailed and is currently out on bail.
Kushinagar: Saddam becomes ‘Sameer Baba’
In Kohargaddi village of Kushinagar, Saddam, now known as Ajmer Wale Chamatkari Baba Sameer Sahib, holds darbars for 200-300 people every day. He claims to remove ghosts, cure illnesses, and provide jobs.
His method is simple: visitors are told to buy cloves and water bottles, which he ‘enchants’ and asks them to consume. He charges Rs 50- Rs100 per person, earning up to Rs 5 lakh a month.
Sameer Baba also prescribes tablets priced at Rs 1,500 for women struggling to conceive and collaborates with a local pathology lab owner, Altaf Ansari. The lab allegedly manipulates reports to support Baba’s claims. A Bhaskar reporter, posing as a woman seeking treatment, was told she had fertility issues. But when cross-verified with a gynaecologist, the reports were found to be normal.
Fraudulent network and criminal links
Before becoming a Baba, Saddam reportedly ran a gang of local goons. His family members, some linked to cow smuggling and petty crimes, support his darbar operations. His growing influence has made him one of the most sought-after fake healers in Kushinagar.
Alongside him, another fraudster, Surendra Sahni, runs healing courts in Pachfeda Khanu Chhapra. Sahni attracts nearly 200 visitors daily, performs exorcisms with coin tricks, and charges up to Rs 50,000 per ritual, earning nearly Rs 15 lakh per month.
Fake babas exploit faith, women targeted the most
Investigations reveal that these Babas mostly target vulnerable women, especially those facing family, fertility, or health issues. By using Hindu symbols or Islamic verses, they gain trust across communities. Their “treatments” range from fake rituals to manipulated medical tests.
One woman was told she could conceive only if Sameer Baba blessed her after pathology reports were falsified. Experts say such practices not only exploit faith but also amount to fraud and mental harassment.
Police warn of strict action
Police officials acknowledge that exorcism and faith healing often cloak criminal activities. “If any criminal wrongdoing is found in such darbars, strict legal action will be taken,” said officers. However, locals allege that despite complaints, these Babas continue to flourish due to fear, political patronage, and lack of swift enforcement.
The investigation highlights how superstition has become a crore-earning industry in parts of Uttar Pradesh. With devotees paying anywhere from Rs 51 to Rs 50,000, these Babas generate massive daily revenues while thriving on people’s desperation for cures, jobs, and solutions.
Unless authorities clamp down, fake Babas like Riyazuddin and Saddam will continue to exploit the vulnerable, turning blind faith into a money-making machine.
Fake Hindu Babas
Investigations reveal a disturbing pattern: many of these Babas adopt Hindu-sounding or ambiguous names to gain trust while simultaneously exploiting Hindu religious symbols and practices. Riyazuddin, for instance, masquerades as Jinnat Baba yet conducts rituals invoking Maa Kali, deliberately mixing religious imagery to attract Hindu devotees.
Similarly, Saddam assumes the identity of Sameer Baba, blending Islamic verses with ritualistic “treatments” to create an aura of authenticity. This deliberate misrepresentation not only deceives followers but disproportionately targets women, especially those struggling with fertility, health, or family issues, making them vulnerable to fraud, mental distress, and financial exploitation.
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