‘Duped’: Newark Dems Fell for Scam That Made Them ‘Sister City’ to Phony Country

New Jersey City signed agreement with a non-existent ‘Kailasa’

Newark’s Democratic-run City Hall in New Jersey admitted last week that it was a victim to fraud. Officials held a “Sister City” Ceremony with the Hindu nation “Kailasa”—a country that does not exist, created by an Indian cult leader on the run from the law over rape charges.

Newark’s mayor Ras Baraka (D.), along with other officials, met with representatives of the fake nation to sign an agreement for partnership at a January city hall ceremony.

“I pray that our relationship helps us to understand cultural, social, and political development and improves the lives of everybody in both places,” Baraka It was at that time.

After city hall was realized “Kailasa” However, it doesn’t exist. Newark Democrats were forced into admitting that they were duped, and to resort to damage control.

Newark, New Jersey in a Statement Submitted CBS News was the victim of a fraud “regrettable incident” However, he maintained that no money was ever exchanged. Luis Quintana, a councilman (D.), stated that the agreement was not a money exchange. “This is an oversight, cannot happen any longer.”

“Kailasa,” The website for the fake country describes itself as “the.” “greatest Hindu nation on Earth,” But it is not recognized by any country and has no territorial control. Swami Nithyananda, an Indian cult leader who created the idea of the fake nation, was responsible. Claim You can also have supernatural powers like the ability to see past walls.

Since 2019, Nithyananda was a fugitive in Indian law enforcement. The swami faced Prices A former disciple was raped.

Newark residents vented frustration at their city government’s failure to stop the fraud. “I’m really sorry for the city that they got duped in that way,” Amaris Mitchell, a Newark resident told CBS News.

“Whose job was it to do a simple Google search?” Shakee Merritt asked. “Not one person said, ‘Let me go and Google and figure out this was a fake city.'”