Nagpur: Air Force officer’s wife raped and forced to convert

A case involving allegations of rape, blackmail, extortion and an attempted forced religious conversion has come to light in Maharashtra’s Nagpur, where the 24-year-old wife of an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer has accused her former school classmate and two others of sexually exploiting her and attempting to convert her religion.

According to police, two accused have been arrested in connection with the case, while a maulana from Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district is currently absconding. An FIR has been registered by Sonegaon Police Station under multiple sections relating to rape, criminal intimidation, extortion, forced religious conversion and provisions of Maharashtra’s anti-superstition law.

The case has attracted attention after a video allegedly linked to the conversion attempt surfaced online. In the video, the woman can be seen resisting while a man identified as the main accused, Ayaz Taj Madare, allegedly holds her hands and recites religious verses. The woman is heard repeatedly pleading to be released and asking him to let go of her hands.

According to the complaint, the victim works as a property dealer while her husband is currently posted outside Nagpur due to his service in the Indian Air Force.

The woman alleged that in February 2025, Ayaz Taj Madare, who was reportedly her school classmate, contacted her on the pretext of purchasing a plot. Their interaction gradually increased before he allegedly called her to a hotel on Wardha Road to discuss the proposed transaction.

In her complaint, the woman stated that she was served juice allegedly mixed with an intoxicating substance. She claimed that after losing consciousness, she was sexually assaulted and objectionable photographs and videos were recorded without her consent.

The victim further alleged that the accused later used the photographs and videos to blackmail her and repeatedly sexually exploited her. She has also accused him of extorting nearly ₹4 lakh over a period of time.

The woman has alleged that alongside the sexual exploitation and blackmail, she was subjected to pressure to convert her religion.

According to her complaint, Ayaz would perform certain religious rituals and recite verses before allegedly forcing her to participate in activities linked to religious conversion. The viral video purportedly shows one such incident.

The victim alleged that on May 31, she was taken to Kalmeshwar near Nagpur, where she was introduced to two other individuals identified as Amin Sheikh and a maulana from Tamiya village in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district.

She claimed that the trio took her to a secluded location where religious rituals were conducted against her wishes. According to the complaint, she was allegedly forced to say “Qubool Hai” and was subsequently informed that her religious conversion had been completed and that a nikah had been performed with the main accused.

The woman stated that she continued to face pressure and alleged that another attempt to sexually assault her was later made.

According to the complaint, she disclosed the entire sequence of events to her husband after he returned home on June 12. Following this, the couple approached Sonegaon Police Station and lodged a formal complaint.

Based on her statement, police registered a case and initiated an investigation.

Police have confirmed that two accused have been arrested in connection with the case. Efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the absconding cleric allegedly involved in the conversion ritual.

Investigators have also seized electronic devices belonging to the accused. These devices have been sent for forensic examination to verify the allegations regarding photographs, videos and digital communication between the parties involved.

Officials said the investigation remains ongoing and further action will be taken based on the findings of the forensic analysis and statements collected during the probe.

The accused have been booked under charges relating to rape, repeated sexual exploitation, criminal intimidation, extortion, alleged forced religious conversion and provisions of Maharashtra’s anti-superstition and black magic legislation.