Pune: Fake Entry Pass Racket Busted at Alandi Temple; Devotees Cheated With Forged Tickets
Alandi, 17th November 2025: A cheating racket has been uncovered at the Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Temple in Alandi, where unsuspecting devotees were sold fake entry passes despite no special scheduled event at the shrine. The fraud came to notice around 10 a.m., prompting a swift police complaint.
A 46-year-old devotee approached the Alandi Police Station after realizing the pass he received was fraudulent. Based on his complaint, police have registered a case against the accused involved in the scam.
Initial police findings reveal that the accused had printed counterfeit entry passes using a forged signature of Yogi Nirjannath Maharaj, the chief trustee of the temple trust. All the fake passes reportedly carried the same serial number, which further aroused suspicion among temple authorities and devotees.
The accused allegedly told devotees that these passes would allow special access inside the temple, exploiting the heavy footfall during the 729th Sanjivan Samadhi ceremony of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. Thousands of devotees have been visiting Alandi daily for the ongoing religious programmes.
Alandi Police have launched a detailed investigation to determine how many devotees were cheated and whether more individuals were involved in printing or distributing the forged passes.
