‘Love Jihad’ Racket Busted in Bhopal: Over a Dozen Arrested in Shocking Sexploitation and Religious Coercion Cases

News Flash

30 May

Organised network allegedly targeted Hindu women with false promises of marriage, blackmail, and pressure to convert, disturbing details emerge from across Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal: A disturbing series of cases has come to light in Madhya Pradesh, where an alleged organised racket is accused of systematically targeting Hindu women and girls under the guise of love and marriage. Over the past few months, multiple victims have approached the police with chilling accounts of deceit, sexual exploitation, blackmail, and attempts at forced religious conversion. As of now, more than 12 suspects have been arrested from various parts of the state in connection with the case.

What the Investigation Revealed

The accused allegedly posed as lovers, luring women into romantic relationships, only to sexually exploit them and secretly record intimate videos. These videos were later used to blackmail the victims, forcing them into silence and, in several cases, into accepting religious conversion.

“He promised marriage, called himself my husband… but later demanded that I change my religion and forcefully tried to circumcise my child too,” said one of the victims, a 35-year-old divorced woman who lives with her teenage son.

She reported that the accused, a man she trusted for years, began to control her daily life, instructed her to stop observing her faith’s traditions, and even coerced her into wearing specific clothing. When she resisted, the abuse turned violent and manipulative. The woman eventually filed an official complaint under the state’s Freedom of Religion Act.

In a parallel investigation, police uncovered an organised group allegedly led by a man named Farhan. The gang is accused of preying on Hindu college students from small towns who were living or studying in Bhopal. The group allegedly followed a chilling modus operandi: start a relationship, record sexual encounters, then use those recordings for blackmail and religious coercion.

Multiple arrests have been made, including:

• Farhan – Alleged gang leader

• Sahil – Ran a dance class used as a trap

• Ali – Sent explicit videos to the gang

• Saad – Allegedly involved in trafficking victims

• Nabeel and Abrar – Provided locations for abuse

According to police, Farhan’s phone contained multiple obscene videos, showing victims in distressing situations. Shockingly, victims were allegedly pressured to introduce other women into the racket, revealing the gang’s deeply predatory and manipulative strategy.

“We are dealing with not just isolated incidents, but a well-coordinated, criminal pattern that targets vulnerable women using emotional manipulation and blackmail,” said a senior officer familiar with the investigation. Public Outrage and Legal Action

The incidents have triggered a wave of public concern across Madhya Pradesh, especially as they involve women from marginalised communities. The arrested individuals are being prosecuted under multiple sections, including charges under the state’s anti-conversion laws, sexual assault laws, and IT laws related to video evidence.

Officials have assured that no one involved will be spared, and the crackdown will continue in other towns where similar complaints are surfacing.

“We urge young women to come forward without fear. The law is with you, and these predators will face justice,” stated the district SP.