“Fake Hindu Babas: How Riyazuddin and Saddam Exploit Faith”, The Jaipur Dialogues, September 24 ,2025:
“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.
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……”
Read the full article at Thejaipurdoalogues.com
