Pune: NHRC Accepts Complaint In Multi-Crore Haj Refund Scam; Over 2,000 Pilgrims Demand CBI, ED Probe Against Private Tour Operators
Pune: NHRC Accepts Complaint In Multi-Crore Haj Refund Scam; Over 2,000 Pilgrims Demand CBI, ED Probe Against Private Tour Operators
Pune | July 26, 2025 — In a major development amid rising public outrage, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has officially accepted a complaint filed by prominent civil rights activist Jaymala Dhankikar regarding the alleged misuse and non-refund of crores of rupees collected from over 2,000 Pune-based Hajj pilgrims. The complaint, diarised on July 24, calls for an urgent investigation by the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and a Parliamentary Standing Committee, citing a massive failure of accountability, transparency, and regulatory oversight in the management of India’s 2025 private Hajj quota.
Background: The 2025 Hajj Quota Meltdown
India’s Hajj quota for 2025 was fixed at 1,75,025, with around 30% (52,507) seats reserved for Private Tour Operators (PTOs) or Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs), while the remaining were handled by the Haj Committee of India. However, in April 2025, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah abruptly cancelled nearly 80% of the private quota after PTOs failed to complete mandatory arrangements — including bookings on the Nusuk platform, accommodation, transport contracts, and Mina camp selections.
The Ministry of Minority Affairs confirmed the quota loss was due to the failure of PTOs, consolidated under Combined Hajj Group Operators (CHGOs), to meet deadlines “despite repeated reminders.” Following diplomatic intervention, 10,000 additional seats were made available, but that still left over 42,000 pilgrims stranded, most of whom had paid upfront through private routes.
The Pune Fallout: ₹160 Crore in Limbo
Nowhere has the impact been more acute than in Pune, where over 2,000 pilgrims were left devastated after paying between ₹16–18 lakh per couple, often drawn from life savings or loans. With the abrupt quota cut, these pilgrims were excluded from the Hajj pilgrimage, and no refunds have been issued to date.
Private Hajj operators in Pune, many of whom advertised “deluxe packages,” have gone silent, shut down offices, ignored calls, and offered vague refund assurances—if any. Activists estimate that over ₹160 crore is currently unaccounted for.
“These are not just numbers; these are people’s life savings meant for a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey. Operators collected full payments without securing services. This is criminal negligence, if not outright fraud,” said Jaymala Dhankikar.
The NHRC Complaint: Demanding Justice and Transparency
The petition submitted to NHRC outlines the systemic failure of regulation over PTOs and raises several urgent demands:
1. CBI & ED Investigations under PMLA
The complaint seeks action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging:
• Funds may have been withheld, diverted, or used to earn interest, violating both financial norms and religious obligations.
• The transaction patterns likely cross the money laundering threshold, making the matter fit for ED action.
2. Criminal Action under BNS
The complaint also accuses the private Hajj operators of:
Cheating and misrepresentation – Previously under Section 420 IPC, now covered under:
Section 316 of BNS, 2023 – Cheating
Punishes anyone who, dishonestly or fraudulently, deceives a person and induces them to deliver property, or to make, alter, or destroy a valuable security.
Criminal breach of trust – Previously under Section 405 IPC, now covered under:
Section 308 of BNS, 2023 – Criminal breach of trust
Applies to anyone entrusted with property or dominion over it, who dishonestly misappropriated or converts it for their own use, in violation of the trust.
3. Seizure of Assets and Bank Accounts
It requests:
• Search-and-seizure operations at the offices and homes of defaulting PTOs.
• Freezing of bank accounts and tracing of foreign remittance trails.
4. Public Accountability and Licensing Review
The petition demands that:
• The names of all private Hajj quota holders are made public on the Haj Committee website.
• A full audit of PTOs will be undertaken by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• Defaulting PTOs are blacklisted and their licenses revoked.
• Refunds be legally enforced or converted into credits for Hajj 2026, under court supervision.
Wider Implications: Cracks in the Private Hajj System
This episode exposes a deep structural weakness in India’s Hajj operations:
• While the government claims to have consolidated 700+ PTOs into 26 CHGOs, local sub-agents like those in Pune often operate with minimal or no regulatory oversight.
• There are no escrow norms, no refund guarantees, and no financial sureties in place, leaving pilgrims at the mercy of operators.
• Civil society has raised questions on why the government failed to regulate the private Hajj market despite repeated red flags in previous years.
Growing Demands for Transparency and Justice
Activist groups and former bureaucrats are calling this a “faith-based financial fraud”, demanding government accountability:
“These pilgrims trusted government-approved operators and paid under faith. Now that they’re left stranded, the government cannot walk away. We need ED, CBI, and Income Tax authorities to probe this thoroughly,” said former Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Akramul Jabbar Khan.
“Why is the Ministry hiding the names of private operators who held Hajj quotas? Why is their performance not made public?” added Dhankikar, calling for mandatory publication of quota allotment details on the Haj Committee website.
.
What’s Next?
With the NHRC now officially admitting the complaint, pressure is building on the following agencies:
• Enforcement Directorate (ED) – to begin financial tracking and seizures
• CBI – to investigate criminal conspiracy and fraud
• Ministry of Minority Affairs – to publicly clarify quota allocation and enforcement failures
• Haj Committee of India – to publish PTO names, quotas assigned, and pending refunds
Conclusion
The Pune Hajj refund crisis is no longer just a community grievance—it is a national-level scandal that cuts across religion, governance, and consumer protection. With ₹160 crore of public money at stake, and the NHRC stepping in, the government now faces urgent calls to protect the rights of pilgrims, enforce justice, and prevent a repeat of this catastrophe in the future.
