‘Was trying to flee to Dubai’: Mastermind of Mirzapur’s gym-based religious conversion racket arrested at Delhi airport | Lucknow News
LUCKNOW: The alleged mastermind of a gym-based religious conversion and blackmail racket in Mirzapur, Imran Khan (38), was arrested by the immigration department at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi while attempting to flee to Dubai. The accused, who carried a reward of Rs 25,000 for his arrest, was intercepted following a lookout notice issued earlier by the police. Acting on the information, a Mirzapur police team reached the national capital on Saturday and produced the accused before the Patiala House Court. After obtaining transit remand, Imran is being brought back to Mirzapur for further interrogation. With his arrest, the total number of accused held in the case rose to seven. Police also sealed five gyms allegedly linked to the racket. Those arrested earlier include a GRP head constable, Irshad Khan (40), Mohammad Sheikh Ali Alam (31), Faizal Khan (34), Zaheer (32), Shadab (36), and Farid Ahmed (28). Superintendent of Police/DIG, Mirzapur, Somen Barma said the accused, Imran Khan, was the key operator of the entire network and had floated multiple gym franchises under a common brand. “While he remained in the background, the day-to-day operations were allegedly handled by his brothers and associates, who targeted young women visiting the gyms. Imran had three cases of cheating and breach of trust chargesheeted in Varanasi, Ghazipur, and Mirzapur districts; hence, he got gyms opened in the names of his brothers,” Barma said. The officer said one more accused, identified as Lucky, is absconding, and a reward of Rs 25,000 has been announced for information leading to his arrest. A lookout circular has also been issued in his name. The case came to light on Jan20 following complaints by two women, prompting a police probe. Four accused were arrested on Jan21, while another was apprehended after an encounter the following day. A GRP head constable allegedly linked to the gang was also arrested the same evening. Police claim to have recovered more than 30 photographs, videos, and chat records from the accused, allegedly showing how women were befriended, blackmailed using morphed and AI-generated obscene content, and pressured into religious conversion.
