The self‑styled priest raises eyebrows and stirs discussions about the misuse of faith and religion itself for selfish purposes. Witnesses said the so‑called ‘Baba’ tried to make a devotee give up money in a religious tradition. Just a small gift soon became an attempt to snatch money but people were shocked and amused.
The Baba first requested a devotee to touch his kamandal (holy pot) with money and justified this as part of a ritual. The devotee touched the pot with a ₹10 note first, but the Baba wouldn’t budge and asked for more money. Wanting to please him, the devotee then touched the pot with a ₹500 note. At this point, the Baba allegedly tried to snatch the money outright, claiming it was in the name of religion.
This incident illustrates the way in which some people pervert religion and religious symbols to profit off people. The Baba made the kamandal look sacred to the people by asking for money to be placed against it. But he rejected smaller denominations and tried to take a larger note, which revealed his true intentions. This behavior violates the trust people have in religious figures and undermines the dignity of authentic spiritual practices.
The Baba’s actions shocked witnesses, some of whom expressed anger, others mocked the incident. Many emphasized that this was a prime example of how fake priests take advantage of innocent devotees. The effort at snatching money in broad daylight embarrassed the Baba and should remind people to be careful about trusting those who profess to be religious.
This episode should be a warning against blind belief and urging to question shady practices. Religion should never be used as a tool of extortion or manipulation. Vigilance should be on people and they must not fall into the clutches of those who conceal greed with spiritual beliefs. The community’s awareness of such acts of abuse should also help protect its people and prevent vulnerable devotees from exploitation.
The “dhongi” priest‘s attempt to snatch money shows how faith can become easily misused if people are not careful. The incident may strike some people as amusing, but the message is still one on safeguarding religious principles and avoiding exploitation. Genuine spirituality is not about greed, but guidance and compassion, and society has to stand tall against those who would misuse it.
