A shocking case involving allegations of illegal confinement, brutal assault, and an attempt at forced religious conversion has emerged from Maharashtra’s Nagpur district, prompting swift police action and raising serious concerns about the safety of devotees visiting religious sites.
The Kanhan Police have registered a criminal case against six individuals, including the chief administrator of a prominent dargah and his son. Three accused have already been arrested, while police teams are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Spiritual visit turns into nightmare
The victim, a woman from West Bengal, had reportedly been visiting the well-known Amma ki Dargah in Nagpur Rural’s Parseoni area for the annual Urs celebrations over the last three years. What began as another pilgrimage turned into a horrifying ordeal during her most recent visit.
According to her complaint, she was lured into a trap within the dargah premises and held against her will. The woman has accused the suspects of pressuring her to abandon her Hindu faith and convert to Islam.
In her statement to the police, she alleged that the harassment escalated over time and culminated in a violent attack on the night of April 18. She claimed that she was locked inside a room, beaten with a cricket bat, a rolling pin and slippers, and subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse.
The woman further alleged that she was forced to recite the Kalma and made to wear a burqa against her wishes. When she resisted the conversion attempt, the accused reportedly intensified the assault and even attempted to strangle her.
Escape and Zero FIR registration
Traumatised by the abuse, the woman eventually managed to escape and return to West Bengal. After reaching her hometown, she approached the local police and submitted a detailed complaint narrating the events.
Since the offences occurred in Maharashtra, the West Bengal Police registered a Zero FIR, a legal mechanism that allows a complaint to be filed regardless of territorial jurisdiction, before transferring the case to Kanhan Police Station in Nagpur Rural for further investigation.
Acting on the complaint, Nagpur Rural Police launched an investigation and arrested three accused: Taji Tanviruddin, chief administrator of the dargah. Taji Mustafizuddin, his son, and Tejas Khobragade, an associate.
Police have invoked serious charges, including attempt to murder, wrongful confinement, assault, and provisions related to forced religious conversion.
Police assure strict action
Confirming the developments, Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harssh Poddar said that the allegations were being treated with utmost seriousness.
“Based on the complaint filed by a woman from West Bengal, Kanhan Police have registered a case involving allegations of attempted forced conversion, illegal confinement and assault at Amma Dargah in the Parseoni area. Immediate action was taken considering the gravity of the allegations, and three accused, including the dargah’s chief administrator and his son, have been arrested. We are seeking police custody of the accused and special teams are working to trace the remaining suspects. Law and order is under control, and a fair and impartial investigation is underway,” he said.
Renewed spotlight on conversion cases
The case has once again brought the issue of alleged coercive religious conversions into public discussion in Maharashtra.
The allegations bear similarities to another high-profile investigation that surfaced earlier this year. In March 2026, a 23-year-old Hindu woman employed at a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) BPO facility in Nashik lodged a complaint alleging sustained workplace harassment, emotional pressure, and attempts to convert her to Islam.
That investigation eventually led to multiple FIRs being registered and the arrest of several individuals associated with the workplace.
With the latest allegations emerging from the Amma ki Dargah, authorities face increasing pressure to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure accountability. Police have reiterated their commitment to tracking down all accused and pursuing the case to its logical conclusion.
