A 24-year-old married woman in Nagpur has filed a complaint with the Sonegaon police, accusing a former school acquaintance and his associates of rape, blackmail, and forced religious conversion. The police have arrested two individuals, while a third suspect remains at large. The case came to light on Friday when the woman lodged her complaint.
Arrests and Accused
The police have arrested the prime accused, Ayyaz Taj Madare, along with his associate Ameen Shaikh. A third accused, identified as Hazrat Maulana, is currently absconding.
Details of the Allegations
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Madare allegedly reconnected with the woman, who is married to an armed force personnel stationed outside the city, under the pretext of helping a friend purchase property. On February 8, 2025, he is accused of spiking her drink with a sedative during a meeting at a hotel, causing her to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered that Madare had allegedly recorded photos and videos of her in compromising positions.
The complainant alleged that these recordings were used to blackmail her, with threats of making the material viral and sharing it with her husband. Over time, the accused allegedly extorted nearly Rs 4 lakh from her. The police stated that the survivor alleged in the FIR that Ayyaz would repeatedly bring a liquid in a plastic bottle, force her to drink it, chant in Urdu, blow something on her face, and commit rape, terming it as hypnosis and black magic.
Forced Conversion and Rituals
In another incident on May 31, Madare and his accomplice allegedly took her to Kalmeshwar, where the third accused, Hazrat Maulana from Tamiya village in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh, performed rituals and forced her to utter 'Qabul hai qabul hai' as part of a conversion ceremony. The police said the woman claimed she was forced to participate against her will. Thereafter, Maulana allegedly declared her converted to Islam and married to Ayyaz. She was also forced to eat meat. The group then took her to a hotel where Ayyaz again raped her.
She also alleged that the accused continued to visit her residence and sexually assaulted her multiple times thereafter.
Investigation and Legal Action
The woman, who manages a property-related business, initially did not report the incidents due to fear. She later informed her husband and approached the Sonegaon police station, where an FIR was registered. Provisions under the anti-black magic law have also been invoked.
Zonal DCP Rishikesh Reddy said the case is under detailed investigation. We are carrying out forensic analysis of seized electronic devices, verifying financial transactions, and recording witness statements. All angles, including coercion and digital evidence, are being probed, he stated.
