A woman in Nagpur has accused three men of rape, blackmail, extortion and forcing her to undergo religious conversion, leading to the arrest of two accused and a search operation for a third suspect.
The 24-year-old married woman approached the Sonegaon Police Station with the allegations. Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under multiple provisions related to sexual assault, criminal intimidation, extortion and Maharashtra’s anti-superstition and anti-black magic law.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ayyaz Taj Madare and Ameen Shaikh. Police are searching for Hazrat Maulana, a resident of Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district, who has also been named in the FIR.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, Rushikesh Reddy, confirmed the arrests and said the investigation is continuing.
“A 24-year-old woman lodged a complaint at Sonegaon Police Station alleging rape, blackmail, extortion and forced religious conversion. Based on her complaint, an offence has been registered, and two accused have been arrested. Further investigation is underway,” Reddy said.
Woman alleges blackmail using private photographs
According to police, the complainant alleged that the main accused, Madare, was known to her from school. She claimed he got back in touch with her while offering assistance in a property-related issue.
The woman alleged that during a meeting at a hotel in February 2025, she was administered an intoxicating substance. She claimed that photographs and videos were recorded without her consent during the encounter.
Police said the complainant alleged that the accused later used the material to threaten her. She claimed she was warned that the images and videos would be circulated publicly and shown to her husband, who is posted outside Nagpur with the armed forces.
The woman further alleged that nearly Rs 4 lakh was extorted from her over a period of time.
Allegations of forced rituals and conversion
According to police, the complainant also alleged that she was repeatedly made to participate in rituals involving the consumption of an unidentified liquid and other practices that she linked to occult activities before being sexually assaulted.
Reddy said the allegations prompted investigators to invoke provisions of Maharashtra’s anti-superstition and anti-black magic legislation along with other criminal charges.
As per the FIR, the woman alleged that on May 31 she was taken to Kalmeshwar, where a religious conversion ceremony was conducted against her wishes.
She claimed that she was compelled to participate in the ritual and was later declared converted and married to the main accused without her consent.
Police said the woman approached authorities after informing her husband about the alleged incidents.
Efforts are underway to trace and arrest the third accused. Further investigation is in progress.