Varanasi Police have arrested 12 individuals accused of illegally collecting money from devotees to facilitate special darshan (referred to as “VIP darshan” and “Sugham darshan”) at the Kashi Vishwanath Dham temple.
The accused are alleged to have been engaging in illegal extortion by offering temple darshan services to pilgrims under false pretenses.
Five of the arrested individuals were apprehended at Gate Number 4 of the temple, while seven were taken into custody near Bansi Phatak. During questioning, all confessed to their actions, and subsequent legal proceedings led to their arrest and booking.
Police officials stated that the operation was conducted based on surveillance footage analysis. Investigation of CCTV cameras revealed that these individuals were extorting devotees under the guise of providing them with smooth darshan experiences.
Moving forward, police and administration have announced an intensified monitoring of any further instances of illegal extortion and inflated VIP darshan schemes. The aim is to ensure that devotees receive just and corruption-free darshan experiences at the temple.
