Private Hajj Applicants from Pune Seek Refunds, Say Operators Non-Committal; Demand Police Intervention
Pune, 20th July 2025: Hundreds of private Hajj aspirants from Pune and surrounding regions are facing uncertainty and financial loss as private tour operators who had accepted advance payments for Hajj 2025 have failed to fulfil their promises or issue refunds. The affected pilgrims, most of whom paid over ₹10 lakh each, are now calling for urgent government action (police probe) as operators remain unresponsive and non-committal about either refunds or future travel arrangements.
Applicants allege that despite paying hefty sums to Combined Hajj Group Organisers (CHGOs), there has been no accountability after over 52,000 pilgrims across India lost their opportunity to perform Hajj this year due to private operators missing key deadlines. The Ministry of Minority Affairs had earlier confirmed that CHGOs failed to complete essential formalities on the Saudi Nusuk portal, leading to the forfeiture of thousands of slots allocated under India’s expanded Hajj quota.
In Pune alone, scores of families, including senior citizens, are left in distress. Many had invested their life savings or retirement funds in hopes of fulfilling a lifelong religious aspiration. They now find themselves without answers or clarity, as private operators cite vague reasons like “external delays” and “quota cuts” while avoiding direct responsibility.
“Hajj form filling has resumed, but thousands of people who applied privately have no idea if they’ll get their money back,” said Jaymala Dhankikar, who is coordinating with affected pilgrims. “The private operators are not making any commitment. They are silent on both refunds and any fresh travel plan under the private quota. This is no longer a clerical lapse—it is turning into a large-scale financial injustice.”
Dhankikar has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Director General of Police, and officials in the Ministry of Minority Affairs and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking immediate intervention. Her letter demands that the government direct erring operators to issue full refunds, launch police investigations, and form a dedicated task force to handle the crisis.
She said, “We need the Maharashtra government and central agencies to take strong action. The operators must be held accountable. They have taken crores from people and failed to deliver. Now, most applicants don’t even know if they will be eligible next year through private quota, and without a refund, they can’t apply through the government quota either.”
With the private Hajj quota for 2025 now closed and the government application process underway, many affected pilgrims fear missing the opportunity altogether unless their previous deposits are returned in time.
Security and consumer rights experts have also raised concerns about the lack of regulatory oversight. “There are no binding guidelines on CHGOs—no cap on fees, no formal refund policies, and no audit mechanism. The current situation has exposed a massive gap in how private Hajj services are governed,” said one observer.
Meanwhile, despite complaints and letters from applicants, most operators have remained unreachable or offered vague verbal assurances. The Pune-based applicants insist that only government enforcement and police action can ensure justice and financial recovery.
As tensions mount and the window for fresh Hajj applications narrows, the message from pilgrims is clear: the state cannot allow private operators to walk away with public money and broken promises.
