Nagpur police have arrested a cleric wanted in connection with the alleged forced religious conversion of a 24-year-old woman, the wife of an Indian Air Force official. The suspect, identified as Hazrat Maulana, was detained in Madhya Pradesh.
The case gained public attention earlier this week after a video showing a man restraining a woman and reciting Islamic verses went viral, sparking widespread concern. The woman has accused a former classmate and his associates of serious offences, including rape, blackmail, black magic, and coercing her into changing her religion.
According to the police complaint, the main accused, Ayyaz Madare (26), and his associate Ameen Shaikh are already in custody. Authorities say Hazrat Maulana played a direct role in the alleged conversion ceremony and subsequent nikah.
The FIR details events beginning on February 8, 2025, when the woman met Ayyaz at a hotel. She alleges that he spiked her drink, rendering her unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered that objectionable photographs and videos had been recorded. The accused then used these materials to blackmail her, threatening to share them with her husband and circulate them online. She claims she was repeatedly sexually assaulted and extorted of approximately Rs 4 lakh.
In the widely circulated video, the woman is seen crying and pleading to be released as Ayyaz holds her hands firmly, chants religious verses, and blows over her. She struggled to free herself during the incident, which she says led to her being declared converted, followed by further assault attempts.
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The complaint further states that Ayyaz would force her to consume liquid from a plastic bottle, perform rituals involving muttering and blowing on her face, and claim it was hypnosis or black magic before assaulting her.
On May 31, Ayyaz and his associate allegedly took the woman to Kalmeshwar, where Hazrat Maulana from Tamia village in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, conducted religious rituals. She was reportedly compelled to utter “qubool hai” against her will. The cleric then pronounced her conversion to Islam and declared a nikah with Ayyaz complete.
Investigators anticipate additional details to emerge from interrogating the cleric. Police plan to recover the nikahnama (marriage certificate) and examine whether others were involved. They will also look into possible similar cases involving other women.