Attack on Hindu representations: Muslim Peer exploits Hindu gods and religious symbols to financially scam Hindus

Case ID : 9958800 | Location : Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, India | Date of Incident : Mon, 15 September, 2025

Case ID : 9958800

Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, India

15 September, 2025

Attack on Hindu representations: Muslim Peer exploits Hindu gods and religious symbols to financially scam Hindus

Attack on Hindu religious representations

Defiling religious customs

Case Summary

In Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, Hindu gods, religious symbols, and sentiments were insulted by a fraudulent Muslim Peer Baba named Riyazuddin, also known as Jinnat Baba, who duped and defrauded innocent Hindu villagers. According to reports, the accused ran a massive court, or darbar, near Biraichi village, where he defrauded people by using Hindu religious symbols and presenting himself as someone who could communicate with Hindu gods. The court, or darbar, was located near a Hindu temple, on the banks of the Chhoti Gandak River. Media reports revealed that approximately 400 Hindus attended Riyazuddin’s darbar, where he did not perform any Islamic occult practices but instead used Hindu religious symbols and rituals to mislead innocent Hindu villagers. He conducted exorcisms by waving a stick at people, pretended to speak to Maa Kali (Hindu goddess), and sang Bhojpuri songs, posing questions to the Goddess and then answering them in a modified voice. When visitors asked too many questions, the accused instructed them to attend the darbar three times before posing any questions. He claimed that only after three visits would Maa Kali tell how their problems could be solved. Payments were collected by assistants, who also took incense sticks, camphor, cloves, and frankincense brought by the villagers. Villagers were charged a fee of 51 rupees for attending the darbar, and additional ritual items cost 70 rupees. On the day of the report, approximately 400 people attended the darbar over the course of five hours; thus, the accused was earning 48,400 rupees in a single day. This method of defrauding people enabled him to earn approximately 14.52 lakh rupees per month. After complaints were lodged by BJP leaders and Bajrang Dal, the police halted construction of his darbar and put an end to his deceptive practices.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of - Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within it, the sub-category selected is - Defiling religious customs. Sanatan Dharma is not a religion of one book, which is to say that while it has religious scriptures that form the central tenets of the faith, there are several traditions followed through thousands of years, mostly passed from generation to generation orally. There are several such customs and traditions that are followed by various Hindus and Hindu sects. Defiling of these traditions and customs is a breach of an individual or group’s religious practices. Such practices can range from dietary restrictions like not eating non-vegetarian food for a certain period of the year, not eating non-vegetarian food at all, not eating beef since the cow is considered holy in Hinduism, the sanctity of religious customs followed in the house (like many ISCKON devotees), etc. Any malicious action leading to the breach of such traditions or defilement of these traditions owing to animosity towards the faith or for the sake of activism stems not only from the lack of faith in the religion itself but also from disregard for the faith of the devotees who follow the customs/traditions and implicit bias against the faith, the tradition itself. Since these specific traditions are central to the faith of the devotees of that specific sect of Hindus, any non-compliance with these traditional rules would be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. This case has been added to the tracker because Hindu villagers were duped, and Hindu religious sentiments were insulted by a fraudulent Muslim Peer Baba named Riyazuddin. The accused deliberately used Hindu deities and religious practices as a method to deceive innocent Hindus. He presented himself as someone who spoke to Maa Kali and claimed that she would solve the problems of those who attended his darbar. Furthermore, he employed Hindu religious symbols and rituals to mislead villagers, performing exorcisms by waving a stick and creating an appearance of divine intervention. Such actions not only disrespected the Hindu faith but reduced its sacred symbols and practices to instruments of fraud and ridicule. By using incense, camphor, cloves, and frankincense, items central to Hindu rituals, and holding his darbar near a temple, the accused manipulated villagers’ devotion for personal economic gain. When visitors asked questions, he instructed them to attend the darbar three times before receiving guidance, further illustrating the exploitative nature of his operations. It is important to note that the accused, being a Muslim, was not inclined towards or respectful of Hinduism; rather, he deliberately employed Hindu gods and symbols to defraud devotees. Hindu traditions are passed down over centuries and hold extreme importance in the life of devotees. When an individual exploits these symbols, rituals, and traditions with the intent to deceive, it constitutes not merely fraud but also an attack on religious representations and sacred practices. The act of claiming to talk to Maa Kali to mislead followers reflects a religiously motivated bias and a conscious disregard for the sanctity of the Hindu faith. In Islamic theology, idol worship, referred to as Shirk, is regarded as the gravest sin. The Qur’an strictly condemns it, and Islamic teachings emphasise the complete rejection of any practice associated with idol worship. Muslims are taught from a young age that idolatry is an unforgivable sin. While this belief is central to the Islamic faith, it has historically and contemporarily led to intolerance and hostility towards idol-worshipping religions, especially Hinduism. In this case, Riyazuddin deliberately used Hindu deities and religious symbols to mislead Hindu villagers. His actions were not motivated by respect for Hinduism; rather, they reflected religious animosity and the deliberate exploitation of Hindu devotees for economic gain. Given that this case involves the continuous undermining and disrespect of the Hindu faith, its gods, and its symbols, as well as their exploitation for fraudulent purposes, it is being added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on when the crime began. However, in this case, the report does not provide specific details about when the accused commenced these activities. Therefore, for documentation purposes, the date of the incident has been recorded as the date it was reported in the media—16th September 2025.