Mirzapur police have arrested Maulvi Khalilu Rehman, identified as the mastermind behind a religious conversion racket targeting Hindu women and girls, following months of investigation into a network operating under the guise of fitness centres.
Khalilu Rehman, a cleric from Bhatwan’s Pokhari Mohalla, had been removed from his previous position at the Bhatwan Pokhari Mosque about a year and a half ago. He allegedly used exorcism practices as a pretext to convert women and children to Islam and was linked to other accused involved in a gym-based blackmail and conversion network.
The arrests followed complaints by multiple victims who alleged that Muslim trainers at gyms in Mirzapur had lured them into relationships, taken private photos and videos, and used AI-generated content to blackmail them into adopting Islam.
Five gyms, including KGN 1.0, KGN 2.0, KGN 3.0, B-Fit, and Iron Fire, were sealed after evidence suggested they were used to facilitate this network. Police recovered hundreds of incriminating videos, photos, and chats from the accused’s digital devices.
Among those arrested were Mohammad Sheikh Ali Alam, Faisal Khan, Zaheer, Shadab, and Farid Ahmed. GRP constable Irshad Khan, who allegedly funded the gyms through extortion, and his accomplice Farid Ahmed were apprehended following a police encounter in which Farid was injured.
Police stated that the racket had trapped over 50 Hindu women since 2021, pressuring them into conversion while threatening to make private videos public or cause harm. A woman named Sanno reportedly helped lure victims by gaining their trust.
In 2023, Khalilu Rehman allegedly converted a Hindu woman from Varanasi’s Lohta police station area and arranged her marriage to a Muslim man, prompting the family to file a complaint. Investigations revealed links between Khalilu Rehman and gym trainers involved in conversion and blackmail, with victims allegedly divided among gyms to maximize the network’s reach.
Further investigation identified Ashfaq alias Lucky Ali Khan, along with his brother Imran Khan, as having established international connections to expand the operation. Imran was arrested at Delhi airport while attempting to flee the country, after reportedly traveling to Dubai and Malaysia in 2024 to coordinate the network and arrange funding from abroad.
Mirzapur District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar ordered all five gyms to be sealed under Section 163 until 27 February 2026. Police are investigating the financial trails of the gyms and the possible involvement of investors. Local residents reported that women frequented the gyms late at night, and expensive equipment had been purchased using money generated from the conversion operations.
In response, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to all Chief Secretaries of states and union territories, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Sports Authority of India, requesting details of existing guidelines and regulatory norms for gyms. The NHRC also directed the Mirzapur District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police to investigate, highlighting concerns over human rights, abuse of authority, and exploitation of women.
This case raises broader concerns about the deliberate concealment of such crimes. Authorities and experts emphasize that cases like this must not be hidden under the guise of Islamophobia; the coercive conversions and exploitation must be recognized as part of a “love jihad” racket. Transparency and accountability are essential to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice without prejudice or distortion of public perception.
At the time of reporting, authorities confirmed that further arrests could follow as investigations into the network’s operations, financial links, and international connections continue.
