Prayagraj Magh Mela: Two Influencers Arrested for Posting Videos Defaming Sadhus and Saints

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh: As the Magh Mela began in Prayagraj, the activities of social media influencers at the event have also increased. While many content creators are sharing positive and informative material, some, driven by the desire for more views and earnings, have posted misleading and objectionable videos. In a recent action, the Cyber Police arrested two influencers for posting such content on Instagram, which aimed to defame the sadhus and saints attending the Mela. Both were presented in court and sent to jail.

Pre-planned Video Aimed at Defaming Sadhus
Cyber Police Station in-charge Om Narayan Gautam said that Pradeep Sahu, a resident of Sikandra Bahriya, posted a deliberately scripted video from his Instagram profile @mrpraadeep. The video was intended to tarnish the image of sadhus and saints attending the Magh Mela. During the investigation, it was revealed that Pradeep had prepared a full script in advance for Chandan Kumar, a resident of Madhepura, Bihar, who was involved in creating the video.

Scripted Scenes Misrepresented Religious Figures
According to the script, Chandan Kumar was to approach sadhus and saints under the pretext of giving them a mark (tilak) while interacting with visitors. The video falsely portrayed a scene where, when asked about the Gayatri Mantra, a sadhu supposedly failed to recite it and refused to provide an Aadhaar card, eventually trying to flee. The video was deliberately filmed to damage the reputation of religious figures at the Magh Mela and sensationalize the content for views.

Viral Video Garnered Six Million Views in a Day
Police officer Kuldeep Singh Gunawat stated that Pradeep Sahu posted the video on his Instagram account, which received nearly 6 million views in just one day. During questioning, Sahu admitted that his aim was to go viral, boost his account’s popularity, and attract promotional offers from tents, hotels, cottages, and other commercial businesses associated with the Magh Mela for substantial earnings.

Strict Action by Cyber Police
Taking the matter seriously, the Cyber Police arrested both accused. Their social media accounts and digital devices are being investigated. Police emphasized that any content spreading rumors, misinformation, or hurting religious sentiments during sensitive events like the Magh Mela will not be tolerated. The Cyber Cell continues to monitor social media, and strict action will be taken against any such violations.