On 5th January, Ujjain Police apprehended a man named Saif Ahmed from Hotel Eklavya Palace near the Mahakal temple. Ahmed has been accused of taking a room in the hotel using the fake Hindu identity of Prakash Kumar Gupta. He was arrested by the police following a tip-off from Hindu organisations who saw him with a Hindu woman. Following the arrest, activists of Hindu organisations raised concerns over the possibility of ‘love jihad’ in the matter. A case has been registered at Mahakal Police Station, and further investigation is underway.
According to media reports, Ahmed checked into Hotel Eklavya Palace near the Mahakal temple using a fake Aadhaar card. Police informed the media that Ahmed is a resident of Bhilai in Chhattisgarh. The Hindu woman who accompanied him is also from Bhilai and is currently working in Pune. She reportedly claimed to have known Ahmed since childhood.
During questioning, Ahmed told the police that he secured the hotel room using a fake Aadhaar card provided by an auto driver. Initial investigations revealed that the couple struggled to find accommodation as hotels refused to allow a Muslim man and a Hindu woman to share a room. The auto driver allegedly stepped in with the fake identity card and helped them secure a room.
Ahmed further told the police that he runs two eateries, Gabbar Dhaba and Gabbar Restaurant, in Bhilai. The woman told the police that she accompanied Ahmed to Ujjain and had planned to continue her journey to Pune, where she works. The family of the woman has been informed about the incident.
Speaking to the media, Hindu activist Arjun Singh Chauhan said that they had received information about Ahmed’s activities in the area. Members of the Hindu organisation followed him and recorded a video. They then called the police after the couple checked into the hotel.
The police took Ahmed into custody and initiated an investigation into the matter. The search for the alleged auto driver who provided the fake identity is under way. Authorities are also investigating the hotel management’s role in allowing a room to be booked under a forged identity. Hotel staff may face legal action for negligence if found culpable.
Reportedly, the police are also exploring the possibility of a “love jihad” angle in the case due to the religious dynamics of the incident. OpIndia tried contacting the police for further information but could not connect.