Ramdev’s associate Balkrishna acquitted in forged documents case
A CBI court in Dehradun has acquitted Acharya Balkrishna, a close associate of yoga guru Ramdev, in a 15-year-old case regarding forged documents for a passport. The court found insufficient evidence to support the charges that he obtained an Indian passport illegally.
Why it matters
The acquittal concludes a long-running legal battle involving a high-profile figure associated with a major Indian business and spiritual conglomerate.
A CBI court in Dehradun on Monday (September 7, 2026) acquitted Acharya Balkrishna—a close associate of yoga guru Ramdev and general secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth—in a 15-year-old case involving the procurement of a passport based on forged educational and other documents.
The court of the Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) also acquitted Naresh Chandra Dwivedi, a co-accused charged with providing forged documents to Mr. Balkrishna.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case and initiated an investigation in 2011 following a complaint alleging that Mr. Balkrishna was a Nepali national who had obtained an Indian passport using forged documents. However, after a prolonged trial, the court acquitted the accused.
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