In a shocking turn of events that has created a shockwave in Indore and stoked political and communal polarisation again in Madhya Pradesh, Anwar Qadri, popularly also referred to as ‘Anwar Dacoit’, the local Congress councillor, is in hiding after being arrested under the tough National Security Act (NSA). The charges against Qadri are serious: financing ‘Love Jihad’ activities, engineering religious conversions by way of lies and money lures, and forcing Hindu women into prostitution.
Identity fraud and obscene acts at Indore apartment
On July 2, the scandal grew deeper after another shocking incident was reported this week from Indore’s Mahalaxmi Nagar. Based on a tip-off from residents, activists of Hindu organisations barged into a studio apartment where a young couple was reportedly found in an objectionable state. The man first introduced himself as Hindu Ramesh Jaiswal. However, when activists pressed him hard, he disclosed his actual name as Sheikh Arbaaz, a Muslim from Shahdol district.
Under interrogation, Arbaaz revealed that he had earlier worked in a popular call centre at Indore and now at another, where he had met the woman. It is said that a search of his mobile phone discovered a large number of obscene pictures and videos, some of which had the woman in attendance and others with other young women. Activists say narcotic drugs were also found on him.
By far most ominously, Arbaaz alleged that local Congress councillor Anwar Qadri gave financial assistance for such operations. He claimed that as much as Rs 2 lakh had been paid for ensnaring Hindu women on false pretences. While the police have yet to officially endorse these allegations, they have arrested Arbaaz for further questioning and confiscated his electronic devices.
Councillor Anwar Qadri: Long Criminal Trail and NSA Action
The incident also contributes to the already infamous reputation of Anwar Qadri, who has 19 criminal cases lodged against him in different police stations in Indore and Ujjain. These are under charges of attempt to murder, robbery with an offensive weapon, rioting, illegal possession of arms, land encroachment, and assault.
In the last month, the Indore district administration used the National Security Act against Qadri to stop further endangering public peace and communal harmony. Indore District Magistrate Ashish Singh signed the order, labelling Qadri’s involvement in a criminal conspiracy to facilitate religious conversion by means of financial inducement as the reason for the NSA action.
The police have also declared a Rs 10,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest. In spite of repeated raids at his house and known dens, Qadri is still on the run, and intelligence indicates he is suspected of hiding in Ajmer or Mumbai.
Previous Cases of ‘Love Jihad’ and Trafficking Network
The recent exposé is similar to earlier shocking incidents connected with Qadri. On June 13, two men, Sahil Sheikh and Altaf Ali, were detained in Indore on rape, religious conversion, and enticement of Hindu women into prostitution charges. Interrogated, the two men allegedly confessed to having been paid by Qadri to lure Hindu girls on promises of romance, convert them, and use them for sex trade.
Altaf, a painter, informed that Qadri had paid him Rs 1 lakh, while Sahil, who was employed at a car showroom, reportedly received Rs 2 lakh for the same purpose. Half of it was paid initially, and the remaining amount was promised to be given once the plan was successfully executed.
Investigations also found that Sahil had created a fake account of a Hindu man named ‘Arjun’ on social media to lure women with the promise of marriage. After gaining trust, sexual assault and forced conversion followed. In the same manner, Altaf also used the same tactics and even offered mobile phones to win victims’ trust.
Police are currently examining call records, bank transactions, and digital evidence from the accused’s mobile phones to trace the wider network. There are suspicions that several other young Muslim men may have been recruited and funded by Qadri for similar purposes.
Qadri’s History: From ‘Dacoit’ Tag to Political Influence
Anwar Qadri’s infamous name goes back to 1996, when he was first arrested on charges of robbery in Ujjain’s Mahakal police station. Ever since, there have been a string of criminal charges against him, for which he became known as ‘Dacoit’.
Even though he had a criminal record, Qadri achieved success politically as well, becoming a three-time Congress councillor in Indore. His wife has twice been the councillor. During Pramod Tandon’s time as city Congress president, Qadri was even general secretary of the party’s city unit.
His criminal activities, though, have often overshadowed his political career. In 2011, for instance, Qadri and two other associates were sentenced to a year in jail for a deadly attack on a resident of their area, Anwar Hussain, who was a crucial witness in another case against him.
Qadri was at the centre of a controversy when he was arrested for organising a protest against terrorism during which his supporters chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. Recently, he was accused of breaking into journalist Javed Khan’s residence with a gun and attacking him and his family.
BJP Slams Congress, Congress Cries Conspiracy
The BJP has grabbed the recent scandal to launch a scathing attack on the Congress. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav did not mince words, saying, “Congress leaders indulge in debauchery; the public record speaks for itself. Whether it’s a dacoit or his godfather, our government knows how to deal with criminals. Such offenders will not be spared.”
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya seconded the view, calling for stern action against Qadri and his purported network.
Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav also spoke, saying, “A person who deceives the public by presenting several surnames and is accused of such serious charges has no moral right to be in public office.”
At the same time, Congress has howled blue murder, terming the case a “political conspiracy.” Party general secretary Chintu Chouksey rejected the charges as false and blamed the BJP for using state machinery to smear their leaders’ images.
He stated, “Anwar Qadri has both communities in his area and he wins with votes from both sides. Cases of love jihad should not happen in our country but this is a BJP propaganda to divert the public attention. When their Minister Vijay Shah makes derogatory remarks, nobody speaks a word. Even the Prime Minister stays silent, but then they spread such propaganda.”
Chouksey also mentioned that he had spoken to both Qadri and Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari, affirming that the party stands by Qadri and will handle the case legally.
Community Outrage and Growing Pressure
The incident has triggered huge outrage across Indore with Hindu organisations protesting and the women’s wing of the BJP submitting a memorandum demanding the immediate arrest of Qadri. Civic leaders have expressed concern about the suspected systematic targeting of Hindu women and a suspected trafficking network.
Despite growing pressure, the police have stepped up their hunt for Qadri and are also probing his suspected role in other similar activities with other persons.
High Court Petition and Administrative Crackdown
In a desperate bid to protect his assets, Qadri recently petitioned the Madhya Pradesh High Court, asking for protection for his Indore property against demolition by municipal authorities. The court instructed that any action must comply with Supreme Court norms but denied a stay.
At the same time, government agencies in the state have sanctioned tough measures, with Chief Minister Yadav giving police free hand to handle the case.
As the probe goes deeper, Indore stays on tenterhooks. The disclosures not only brought out alleged communal conspiracies but also set off political fault lines. With Qadri still on the run, and fresh names cropping up from the probe, the city and in fact, the state waits to know how this explosive drama unfolds.
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