Indore Congress councillor booked after accused in rape cases allege role in religious conversion

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A Congress councillor from Indore has been booked in connection with an alleged religious conversion case after two men, arrested in separate sexual assault cases, claimed that they were “paid by councillor Anwar Qadri to befriend and marry Hindu women”, a police officer said on Monday.

Indore Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya told The Hindu that two separate FIRs had been registered by two women against two individuals — Sahil Sheikh and Altaf Shah — accusing them of rape on the pretext of marriage. The two accused were arrested on Sunday.

“Soon after, a video of the two men revealing the involvement of Anwar Qadri went viral. The video is about two-three months old but they have made the same claims in police interrogation. Based on their statements, we have added his [Mr. Qadri’s] name in both FIRs,” Mr. Dandotiya said.

The police officer said that while the men were initially booked under rape charges, sections related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, were subsequently invoked. Mr. Qadri has now been named as an accused.

“Teams are constantly working to trace him and we will arrest him soon,” he added.

In the purported video, Mr. Sheikh and Mr. Shah are seen being questioned by an unidentified individual and claim that they were paid ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh, respectively, by Mr. Qadri to “marry a Hindu woman”.

Following the development, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the Congress and alleged that party leaders were “not even hesitating to ruin the lives of Hindu girls for their petty and appeasement politics”.

Indore city BJP president Sumit Mishra alleged that Mr. Qadri was “funding love jihad” and called upon Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari to expel him from the party.

However, Indore Municipal Corporation Leader of Opposition and Congress councillor Chintu Chouksey denied the allegations and described the case as a “conspiracy by the BJP”.

“Anwar Qadri has both communities in his area and he wins with votes from both sides. Cases of love jihad should not happen in our country but this is a BJP propaganda to divert the public attention. When their Minister Vijay Shah makes derogatory remarks, nobody speaks a word. Even the Prime Minister stays silent, but then they spread such propaganda,” Mr. Chouksey told The Hindu.

Mr. Chouksey said that he had spoken to both Mr. Qadri and Mr. Patwari, and the party stands by Mr. Qadri. “We will handle the case legally,” he added.

Published - June 16, 2025 09:20 pm IST