In a shocking incident reported from Muzaffarnagar’s Bhopa, the sacred bond between a mentor and his protégé was shattered by greed. Vishnu Das, a Sadhu associated with the Nirmohi Akhada, was duped of ₹28.50 lakhs by Mohammad Hashim—a man he had raised and trusted like his own son for the past eight years.

The fraud unfolded when the Sadhu expressed his desire to purchase land for expanding a Gaushala (cow shelter). He had recently sold his ancestral property to fund this noble cause. Seizing the opportunity, Hashim and his accomplices created forged documents and fake Aadhaar cards to convince Vishnu Das of a lucrative land deal. Trusting Hashim blindly, the Sadhu handed over the massive sum, only to be met with death threats when he asked for the land or a refund.

Following a complaint lodged on March 18, 2026, the Muzaffarnagar Police, led by SSP Sanjay Verma, launched a lightning-fast operation. Within 48 hours, Hashim and six others, including Praveen and Dilshad, were apprehended. The police recovered ₹22 lakhs in cash and electronic equipment used for forgery. This case serves as a grim reminder of how religious sentiments and deep-rooted trust can be exploited by professional criminals.