In a major breakthrough in the Agra religious conversion case, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have arrested key accused Abdul Rehman from Delhi’s Mustafabad area. Authorities believe he played a central role in orchestrating the large-scale conversion racket recently exposed in Agra.
During a search of Rehman’s residence, officials recovered a significant cache of literature allegedly used to influence individuals into religious conversion. This marks the 11th arrest in the ongoing investigation.
Originally from Firozabad, Abdul Rehman was born as Mahendra Pal. He first converted to Christianity and later to Islam. His activities are reportedly linked to jailed cleric Kaleem Siddiqui, who is serving a life sentence for operating a similar conversion network.
Foreign Links Emerge in Agra Conversion Racket, Raids Intensify
Investigators have uncovered possible foreign funding ties in the Agra religious conversion case. According to officials, Abdul Rehman’s nephew resides in London and is suspected of aiding the network financially. Based on this lead, teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are now carrying out fresh raids in Delhi and Kolkata.
Meanwhile, valuable information continues to surface from the ten accused already in custody, currently under 10-day police remand. Many of them, themselves converts from Hinduism to Islam, have admitted to being systematically brainwashed. They revealed that they were taught converting others was the only path to paradise—or “jannat”—and were instructed to focus on vulnerable individuals, referring to the process as “adding new relations.”
Woman Rescued from Accused’s House as Conversion Network Deepens
Police rescued a woman named Mamta from Haryana during a raid at Abdul Rehman’s residence in Delhi, where she had allegedly been brought for religious conversion. Officers also recovered numerous books promoting conversion, adding to the evidence against him.
Investigators believe Abdul Rehman took over the network after cleric Kaleem Siddiqui’s arrest and conviction by an NIA court. Rehman is suspected of maintaining regular contact with other key operatives in the racket, many of whom were using false identities to avoid detection.
Key Accused Were Formerly Hindus, Later Turned Recruiters
Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar revealed that several individuals arrested in the religious conversion case were originally Hindus before adopting Islam. Among them, Ayesha from Goa was previously known as S.B. Krishna, Ali Hassan from Kolkata was once Shekhar Rai, Abu Rehman from Dehradun was earlier Rupendra Baghel, Mohammad Ali from Jaipur was formerly Piyush Singh Panwar, and Mustafa from Delhi was earlier Manoj. Mohammad Ibrahim from Kolkata had once gone by the name Reet Banik.
According to officials, these individuals were intensely indoctrinated and later became active recruiters for the conversion network, primarily using social media to reach out to vulnerable targets.
Missing Sisters Demand Release of Accused, Link Return to Religious Beliefs
Two sisters who went missing from Agra’s Sadar Bazar area became a focus of the investigation after a photo of one of them holding an AK-47 surfaced on social media. Following their rescue, the girls reportedly told police they were ready to return home—but only if the arrested individuals were released.
They insisted that those detained had committed no crime and were merely “serving their religion.” The sisters further claimed that if the accused remained in jail, none of them would attain “jannat” (heaven), underscoring the deep ideological influence exerted by the conversion network.
The elder sister, a highly educated MSc Zoology and MPhil graduate, had been preparing for the NET exam in Agra when she met Saima, also known as Khushboo, a woman from Jammu and Kashmir. Struck by Saima’s personality and manner, she grew close to her. Gradually, Saima introduced her to Islamic teachings, sending her videos that promoted religious conversion. Over time, the elder sister adopted new practices—wearing a burqa and offering namaz at home. Though her family brought her back from Kashmir during the COVID lockdown, the psychological shift had already taken root. She later persuaded her younger sister to follow the same path.
During questioning, the younger sister revealed she had felt neglected and frustrated at home, often facing scolding from her mother over academics and chores. Seeing her elder sister’s transformed life, she believed it offered greater meaning and freedom, leading her to embrace the same path.
Social Media as a Tool for Radical Outreach
According to investigators, social media platforms like Instagram were key to the operation. Several accused individuals actively used these platforms to identify and approach vulnerable targets. One such account, “Connecting Revert,” was allegedly run by Mohammad Ibrahim alias Reet Banik from Kolkata, who maintained regular contact with the sisters. Authorities say these digital channels played a critical role in spreading the conversion network’s influence, especially among youth.
