A shocking case has emerged in Indore where a 26-year-old Hindu woman has accused one Shad Siddiqui of luring her into a relationship by posing as ‘Sachin’ and later revealing his true identity as a member of the dreaded ‘Machhli Gang’.
The survivor, originally from Jabalpur, came to Bhopal two years ago in search of a job. According to her complaint, Shad befriended her under the false identity of Sachin and promised employment opportunities. When she later shifted to Indore for work, Shad continued to stay in touch and eventually visited her.
On January 3, 2025, the accused allegedly offered her Rajni Gandha, after which she felt dizzy and lost consciousness. Taking advantage of her condition, he raped her and secretly recorded objectionable videos. These videos later became tools of blackmail and sexual exploitation, the survivor alleged.
Religious pressure and abuse
The woman further revealed that Shad gradually began forcing her to wear a burqa, pressured her to convert, and even introduced her to others while disguising her identity. When she resisted, he became violent.
Recalling one such incident, the survivor told police: “He said, ‘We are hardcore Muslims, and your place is at my feet. You are from a low caste; you cannot be the pride of my house. If you refuse sex, I will make your photos and videos viral.’”
She also alleged that Shad assaulted her at Indore’s Infinity Hotel, where he once again tried to force physical relations. The complaint mentions caste-based abuses, threats, and intimidation.
The woman said Shad openly told her: “I am part of the Machhli Gang. Our job is to trap Hindu girls, have sex with them, get them pregnant, and abandon them.”
Jewellery, phone, and threats
The FIR records that Shad took away the woman’s jewellery and mobile phone. When she attempted to break contact, he tracked her down repeatedly, threatening to circulate her photos and videos if she did not comply with his demands.
Unable to bear the trauma, the survivor confided in Rajput Karni Sena’s state president, Shailendra Singh, who immediately took her to Indore’s Vijay Nagar police station. Based on her testimony, police registered a case against Shad Siddiqui for rape, physical assault, religious conversion pressure, caste-based abuse, and intimidation.
Machhli Gang’s dark past
The case has again thrown the spotlight on the Machhli Gang, a notorious criminal network based in Bhopal. Kingpin Yasin Machhli and his uncle Shahwar Machhli are currently in jail for running a sprawling drug and exploitation racket. However, police sources admit that their associates remain active across Madhya Pradesh.
Investigations over the past year revealed that Yasin’s gang specialised in targeting Hindu girls, luring them into rave parties, addicting them to drugs, and blackmailing them into sexual exploitation and even forced conversions.
Police had earlier confirmed that the gang ran rave parties on the outskirts of Bhopal, charging hefty entry fees and supplying synthetic drugs like MDMA and hashish. Many pubs and clubs linked to them are still under the scanner.
A senior police officer had told the media: “The Machhli family has been involved in criminal activities for over 55 years. From illegal mining to drug trade, they built an empire by trapping vulnerable youth. Targeting Hindu girls was a deliberate strategy.”
Congress leader’s son among accused in gang’s operations
Earlier this year, the nexus widened with the arrest of Anshul Singh alias Bhuri, son of a Congress leader, who was found to be a close aide of Yasin Machhli. He faces over 20 criminal cases, including attempted murder and arms smuggling.
In the latest Indore case, Vijay Nagar police confirmed that multiple sections have been invoked against Shad Siddiqui, including rape, assault, intimidation, and sections under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act.
Police are also probing whether Shad’s operations were directly linked to Yasin Machhli’s network.
The survivor, now under police protection, has said she wants justice so that no other girl suffers like her.
Her statement echoes the fears of many families across Madhya Pradesh, where the shadow of the Machhli Gang continues to haunt, despite high-profile arrests.
