KKN Gurugram Desk | In a shocking incident, a case of extortion in the name of providing special access to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has surfaced, leading to the arrest of 21 individuals by the police. The arrests were made during a surprise raid conducted by the local police in the area surrounding the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. These individuals were involved in coercively collecting money from devotees under the pretext of offering them quick access to the temple for darshan.

Police Raid Unveils Extortion Network at Kashi Vishwanath Temple

On June 11, 2025, a coordinated raid was conducted by the police from the Chowk and Dashashwamedh police stations in Varanasi. The operation uncovered a widespread extortion racket operating around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, where a group of individuals was forcibly collecting money from devotees in exchange for faster darshan or temple entry.

The police team, led by ACP Dashashwamedh, Dr. Atul Anjan Tripathi, had been receiving continuous complaints about such illegal activities taking place around the temple. According to the reports, a gang was specifically targeting out-of-town visitors, tricking them into paying large sums of money by promising expedited entry to the temple. Furthermore, if the devotees refused to pay the demanded amount, they were reportedly harassed or mistreated.

Details of the Police Operation

As part of the investigation, the police examined footage from CCTV cameras installed around the temple area. After thorough analysis, several individuals involved in the extortion activities were identified. Based on this evidence, the police carried out a surprise raid and arrested 21 suspects who were allegedly part of the racket.

The arrested individuals range in age from 21 to 35 years and have been charged under sections 170/126/135 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cheating, criminal conspiracy, and extortion. The police officials from Chowk and Dashashwamedh stations, including Inspector Vijay Kumar Shukla from Chowk and Inspector Vimal Kumar Mishra from Dashashwamedh, explained that the accused used to target tourists who were unfamiliar with the area and temple procedures.

The accused lured devotees by promising them quick access to the temple and convincing them to pay upfront. However, after taking the money, they either disappeared or failed to deliver the promised service. The scam caused significant distress among the pilgrims, who were left feeling cheated and often unable to visit the temple due to the fraud.

How the Extortion Racket Operated

According to the police, the culprits operated by pretending to offer special darshan or access to the temple’s inner sanctum in exchange for a fee. They would first approach pilgrims, mostly those who had come from outside the city, and offer them quick access, making them believe that they could bypass the long lines for darshan.

Once the devotees agreed to the terms, the fraudsters would take the money and accompany them to the temple. However, after collecting the money, the accused would either leave the devotees at the temple gate or vanish entirely, leaving them stranded without any access to the temple. In some cases, the victims were subjected to verbal abuse when they asked for a refund or questioned the behavior of the accused.

The police have emphasized that the arrested individuals were part of a larger network that exploited the religious sentiments of innocent devotees. The suspects were allegedly well-coordinated, often using different tactics to deceive the pilgrims. Many of the accused had been operating in the Kashi Vishwanath area for months, and their actions had reportedly been causing distress among the visitors to one of the holiest places in India.

List of Arrested Accused

The following individuals were arrested during the raid conducted by the police:

1. Nikhil Pandey

2. Raju Pandey

3. Lucky Pandey (Badi Pyari)

4. Prateek Singh (Bansfatak)

5. Monu Singh (Baluabir)

6. Guru Prasad Jaiswal aka Rishi

7. Chhotu Pandey (Lahartara)

8. Vishal Pandey

9. Ishan Mishra

10. Vinayak Mishra (Durgakund, Bhelupur)

11. Sankatha Prasad (Chhoti Pyari)

12. Randhawa Vishwakarma (Ramapura)

13. Amir (Rasoolganj, Mirzapur)

14. Sanjay Pandey (Chaukaghat)

15. Manish Pandey (Trilochan Bazar-Adampur)

16. Sachin Jaiswal (Sonarpura)

17. Golu Sahni (Padav)

18. Ajay Kumar (Mahmoorganj)

19. Brijesh Kumar

20. Pawan Sahni (Jangambadi)

21. Ajay Kumar (Mughalsarai)

These individuals were arrested and taken to jail after the police completed their investigation. Each of them faces charges related to extortion and other criminal activities.

Action Taken by the Police

The police have been commended for their prompt action and efforts to clean up the area around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The raid was part of an ongoing effort to ensure that religious places are free from illegal activities and that pilgrims can visit these sacred sites without the fear of being exploited.

ACP Dr. Atul Anjan Tripathi, who led the operation, emphasized the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the temple and protecting the interests of devotees. He also mentioned that this operation was just the beginning of a larger crackdown on such extortion rackets operating in and around religious sites in Varanasi. The police have vowed to continue their vigilance and take strict action against any further incidents of exploitation.

The Impact of the Scam on Devotees

The extortion racket at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has raised serious concerns among devotees, especially those coming from other parts of the country. Pilgrims visit the temple with great devotion, hoping for a peaceful and fulfilling spiritual experience. However, the actions of these fraudsters have caused significant distress, tarnishing the temple’s reputation and affecting the emotional well-being of many.

This scam has highlighted the growing issue of exploitation at religious sites, where unscrupulous individuals take advantage of the faith of pilgrims for personal gain. It also underscores the need for more stringent security measures at popular tourist and religious destinations to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors.

In light of the recent developments, the police and temple authorities must take immediate steps to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. Stringent monitoring and security checks, along with awareness campaigns for pilgrims, can help mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Additionally, the temple management and local authorities should work together to implement more robust mechanisms to regulate individuals offering special access or services to devotees. By doing so, the sanctity of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple can be preserved, and pilgrims can continue to visit this sacred site with peace of mind.

The arrests made in this case are a positive step towards curbing such illegal activities, and it is hoped that this will serve as a warning to others who may attempt similar scams in the future. With continued vigilance and enforcement, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple can remain a beacon of spirituality and devotion for all its visitors.