Cleric Arrested in Alleged Forced Conversion Case Involving IAF Officer's Wife
Nagpur Police Take Action Against Cleric
Photo: @Payal_mahajan68/X
Nagpur, June 18: Authorities in Nagpur have detained a cleric linked to the alleged forced religious conversion of a 24-year-old woman, who is married to an Indian Air Force officer. The suspect, known as Hazrat Maulana, was captured in Madhya Pradesh and is currently being interrogated.
This case gained significant media attention earlier this week due to the grave accusations made by the victim. In her report, she claimed that a former classmate and several accomplices were involved in sexual assault, blackmail, coercive conversion, and rituals purportedly associated with black magic.
The situation escalated when a video surfaced on social media, allegedly depicting a man holding the woman’s hand while reciting religious texts. This footage incited public outrage and heightened scrutiny of the allegations.
As reported by a news outlet, the main suspect, Ayaaz Madare (26), along with his associate Ameen Shaikh, is already in police custody. Investigators suspect that the arrested cleric had a crucial role in the alleged conversion and the execution of a supposed marriage ceremony.
The FIR outlines that on February 8, 2025, the woman met Ayaaz at a hotel where he allegedly spiked her drink with a narcotic. After she lost consciousness, compromising images and videos were reportedly captured without her consent. The accused allegedly used these materials to intimidate her, threatening to share them with her husband and post them online. The woman further claimed she was repeatedly assaulted and coerced into handing over nearly Rs 4 lakh.
In the viral footage, the woman is seen in distress, pleading for her release while the accused recites verses and performs rituals. She stated that after the incident, she was informed that she had been converted against her will, and further attempts were made to assault her.
The complainant also alleged that Ayaaz frequently forced her to drink a liquid from a plastic bottle. After consuming it, she claimed he would chant in Urdu, blow on her face, and describe the act as hypnosis or black magic before assaulting her.
Another incident mentioned in her complaint reportedly occurred on May 31, when the woman was taken to Kalmeshwar by the accused and his associate. There, Hazrat Maulana allegedly conducted religious rituals and coerced her into saying “qubool hai” against her will. She stated that the cleric then declared her conversion and performed a nikah ceremony with Ayaaz.
Police officials indicated that more information is anticipated to emerge during the cleric’s questioning. Investigators are currently looking for documents related to the alleged marriage and assessing whether other individuals were involved. Authorities are also investigating if similar incidents have occurred with other women.