Screen grab of the viral video of Ayaaz Madare and the victim
NAGPUR: The police have achieved a major breakthrough in the case involving the alleged rape, blackmail, forced Islamic conversion, and harassment, under the guise of religious rituals, of an Indian Air Force officer’s wife in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The third accused, a Maulvi who had been absconding for a long time, has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh.
Notably, the case came to light after a video went viral on social media showing the victim weeping and pleading to be let go, while the accused Maulana was seen muttering and blowing breath over her after reciting religious verses. Following this, the police intensified their investigation and initiated strict action against the accused.
The accused arrested by the Nagpur police has been identified as Hazrat Maulana, a resident of the Tamia area in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district. According to the police, he had fled after playing an active role in the alleged Islamic conversion and ‘Nikah’ process. He was taken into custody in Madhya Pradesh late at night and brought to Nagpur, where he is currently undergoing detailed interrogation.
The main accused in the case, 26-year-old Ayaz Madare, and his associate, Amin Shaikh, are already in police custody. Investigative agencies believe that the arrested Maulana’s role was not limited merely to religious rituals; rather, he was a key figure in the entire alleged conversion process.
According to the FIR, the victim has leveled several serious allegations against her former classmate, Ayaz Madare. The complaint states that Ayaz initially took advantage of their friendship and later subjected her to continuous harassment through blackmail and mental pressure. The woman alleges that the accused systematically ensnared her after emotionally manipulating her. Subsequently, she was allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation, financial extortion and pressure to convert her religion.
According to the details recorded in the FIR, Ayaz Madare summoned the woman to a hotel on February 8, 2025. It is alleged that a sedative was mixed into her drink there. The woman claims that compromising photographs and videos of her were recorded while she was in an unconscious state.
The victim alleges that she was subsequently subjected to continuous blackmail using these very videos and photographs. The accused allegedly threatened that if she did not comply with his demands, the videos would be sent to her husband and circulated on social media. According to investigating officers, this alleged blackmail was used to exert constant pressure on the woman and subject her to mental harassment.
In her complaint, the woman alleges that she was sexually abused multiple times after being blackmailed with the videos. She also claims that the accused extorted approximately four lakh rupees from her under various pretexts.
According to the allegations in the FIR, the accused persistently intimidated her and threatened to harm her personal life and marital relationship. The police are now investigating financial transactions and bank accounts to verify the allegations of extortion.
The complaint levels another serious allegation: the accused would regularly make the woman drink a liquid from a plastic bottle. The victim claims that afterwards, the accused would recite something in Urdu, blow on her face, and describe the act as a process of hypnosis or black magic. The woman alleges that she was raped following these purported rituals.
According to the FIR, on May 31, the accused Ayaz Madare and an associate forcibly took the woman to the Kalmeshwar area near Nagpur. There, a ‘Hazrat Maulana’ allegedly compelled her to undergo the procedures required for conversion to Islam. The victim alleges that she was repeatedly made to say “Qubool Hai” (I accept) against her will and was pressured to embrace Islam. The woman states that she complied due to fear and coercion.
According to the complaint, after completing the proceedings, the Maulana declared that the woman had accepted Islam and that her ‘Nikah’ with Ayaz Madare had been solemnized.
The gravity of the matter intensified when a video related to the incident went viral on social media. In the video, the woman is seen weeping and pleading with the accused to let her go. The emergence of the video sparked concern among social organizations and the general public. Consequently, pressure mounted on the police to conduct a fair and speedy investigation, prompting investigative agencies to intensify action against the accused.
Following the interrogation of the arrested Maulana, the police are now searching for the alleged ‘Nikah-nama’ (marriage contract) and related documents. Officials state it is crucial to determine how the marriage ceremony was conducted and who was involved.
The police are also investigating whether an organized network played a role in this case or if the crime was committed solely by a few individuals. Investigative agencies are trying to determine whether similar incidents have occurred with other women.
Police officials believe that the Maulvi’s arrest could prove crucial to the investigation. His interrogation may yield vital information regarding the alleged conversion process, documents related to the ‘Nikah’, other potential accomplices and the background of the entire sequence of events.
