A shocking case of gang rape, arms smuggling, and forced religious conversion has surfaced in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district, leading to the arrest of Raees Ahmed, a mosque cleric, on August 21, 2025. The accusations stem from an ex-Muslim woman who recently returned to Sanatan Dharma and claimed she and her mother were subjected to heinous crimes orchestrated by her relatives and the cleric. The case gained traction after explicit videos involving the accused went viral on social media, prompting a police investigation.
The victim, who goes by the name Yashoda, with her previous name being Haalima, revealed a chilling account of abuse. She alleged that her mother was held captive for 14 years, during which she was gang-raped for five years at the Nadrabag mosque under the control of Imam Raees Ahmed.
The victim further claimed that her maternal uncle was murdered by relatives, including a key accused named Imtiaz, to seize control of 350 bighas of land. The victim’s father passed away in 2012, leaving her and her mother vulnerable to the alleged perpetrators.
Notably, her younger sister was beheaded, and another four-year-old sister was raped. Yashoda herself was raped, with guns inserted into her private parts and a knife used to damage her uterus, among other atrocities, but she somehow managed to rescue her mother from this hell.
The accused include clerics from the mosque, namely Imteyaz, Irfan Haji, Zakir, Sagun, Israr, and others.
According to the victim, the mosque served as a hub for criminal activities, including arms smuggling and the gang rape of young girls. She accused her relatives and Raees Ahmed of exploiting her mother and other women, with the cleric allegedly using religious threats to intimidate victims. The victim’s decision to embrace Sanatan Dharma reportedly triggered further threats from the accused.
The case came to public attention on August 20, 2025, when the victim released a video accusing Raees Ahmed of heinous acts. The video, which went viral on social media, prompted authorities to form an investigative team led by the City Officer. The probe included a site inspection and culminated in the cleric’s arrest the following day.
सोशल मीडिया पर कथित वायरल वीडियो (नाजायज असलहा एवं अश्लील सामग्री) के संबंध में थाना सिविल लाइन पुलिस द्वारा कृत कार्यवाही के संबंध में #अपर_पुलिस_अधीक्षक_रामपुर द्वारा दी गयी बाईट । #UPPolice #RampurPolice pic.twitter.com/e3LNZwpE5W
— Rampur police (@rampurpolice) August 21, 2025
In one of the clip, Raees Ahmed is seen sitting in front of illegal firearms, ammunition, condoms, and pornographic literature while threatening women who returned to Sanatan Dharma with “Allah’s wrath.”
Another disturbing video shows the cleric interacting with a naked girl, with weapons and explicit materials visible in the background. Additional footage depicts Raees attempting to rape a sleeping girl and hiding items in polythene, as well as engaging with communal content online.
In a particularly chilling video, the victim confronts Raees Ahmed, asking if Muslims would kill her for her choices.
The cleric responds, “Yes, we will definitely kill,” urging her to repent to Allah to avoid divine punishment. He further references a madrasa housing 800-900 girls, admitting that strict measures were imposed to prevent them from escaping after some attempted to flee.
On August 21, 2025, police from Civil Line Police Station in Rampur arrested Raees Ahmed, son of Shafi Ahmed, from Parchai Kumhariya village in the Azimnagar police station area. A search led to the recovery of two 12-bore pistols, four live cartridges, and a mobile device from the accused.
Authorities registered FIR No. 316/25 against him, charging him under section 3/25 of the Arms Act for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Section 3/5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act for alleged attempts at forced religious conversion. Section 66 of the IT Act for the dissemination of obscene videos online.
The police confirmed that the viral videos depicted a man engaging in indecent behaviour toward a woman, with illegal weapons and ammunition visible. Immediate action was taken following the public outcry, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The victim told the media that her mother was held at the mosque for five years, during which she was repeatedly gang-raped by Raees Ahmed and others. The victim also linked her maternal uncle’s murder to a land dispute, accusing her relatives of orchestrating the crime to seize property.
The victim’s courage in coming forward has sparked widespread outrage, with social media amplifying the case through the circulation of the incriminating videos. She continues to seek justice for her mother’s ordeal and the broader crimes allegedly committed at the mosque.
The arrest of Raees Ahmed has intensified scrutiny of religious institutions and their oversight in Uttar Pradesh.
The case has also reignited debates about women’s safety and the misuse of religious authority. As the investigation unfolds, the victim’s allegations and the viral videos have raised serious questions about the activities at the mosque and the role of influential figures like Raees Ahmed.
