Ramdev’s associate Balkrishna acquitted in forged documents case

A file image of Acharya Balkrishna. | Photo Credit: The Hindu 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.Also read | Fake documents case: CBI arrests Ramdev’s aide BalkrishnaThe 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.Following the court's verdict, Mr. Balkrishna said that he has full faith in the judicial system. He, however, said that the long legal process was exhausting and he had to endure humiliation, disrepute, and the negative energy of others during the process. Published - September 08, 2026 10:47 am IST