CBI Court Acquits Acharya Balkrishna in 15-Year-Old Passport Fraud Case

Dehradun, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : Acharya Balkrishna, the Managing Director of Patanjali Yogpeeth and a close associate of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, received a significant relief on Monday. A special CBI court in Dehradun acquitted him of all charges in a passport fraud case that dates back nearly 15 years.

The legal battle began in 2011 and culminated with the court’s decision to clear Balkrishna of allegations related to the use of fraudulent educational documents to obtain an Indian passport.

In response to the ruling, Balkrishna expressed his gratitude towards the judicial system. He shared his thoughts on Facebook, stating, “For the past 15 years, I faced humiliation and mental harassment due to false charges aimed at breaking me. Ultimately, through God’s grace, the blessings of my guru and elders, and the love and prayers of everyone, the truth has triumphed in the CBI court. I sincerely thank you all for your kindness, love, and blessings.”

The case originated from a complaint received in April 2011. Following an initial inquiry, the CBI registered a formal case in July 2011, which included charges of criminal conspiracy, fraud, forgery, and violations of the Passport Act.

The agency alleged that certain educational certificates submitted to a passport office in Bareilly were dubious. Investigators claimed these certificates were issued by Radha Krishna Sanskrit College in Khurja, which was purportedly affiliated with Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.

After examining the university’s records, the CBI raised questions about the authenticity of these documents and filed a charge sheet in court in 2012.

During the investigation, the Uttarakhand High Court placed a temporary stay on Balkrishna’s arrest in July 2011 and directed him to submit his passport to the court.

In October 2013, charges were framed against him, which were later amended, leading to a protracted trial. Throughout this lengthy legal process, Balkrishna’s passport remained with the court. In 2018, the High Court allowed him to reclaim and renew it.