Ahmedabad, Gujarat:

Ahmedabad Railway Police have busted a major case of suspected love jihad and arrested one individual, Mohammad Shahbaz Khan, who allegedly targeted Hindu women by ensnaring them in his love trap. He contacted girls on matrimony and dating sites, introducing himself as an unmarried Hindu and a Major in the Army. He would then meet them, lure them into marriage, and exploit them physically and financially.

He used to introduce himself as a major in the Indian Army and created his fake identity under the name Harshit Chaudhary. Other paperwork and an army ID card were found on him. He used to travel with fictitious documents by rail and airplane. His brother is in the Indian Air Force, while his father is a former army personnel.

During the investigation, the police found that Mohammad Shahbaz Khan had created a fake Aadhaar card and Army ID in the name of Major Harshit Chaudhary. He was in contact with more than 15 women across the country, including those from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bahraich.

The matter came to light when, a few days ago, a suitcase was stolen from the Vande Bharat train in Gujarat. A complaint was lodged with the Ahmedabad Railway Police regarding this incident. The police examined CCTV footage during their investigation and identified a young man through the Railway Reservation system. Based on the documents used for seat booking, he was identified as Harshit Chaudhary from Rajasthan.

Finally the Railway Police arrested the accused. He was brought to Ahmedabad for interrogation. During questioning, it was revealed that the arrested individual was not Harshit Chaudhary but Shahbaz Mushtaq Ali Khan, who possessed a fake Aadhaar card in the name of Harshit Chaudhary. Shahbaz not only portrayed himself as a Hindu but also claimed to be a Major in the Indian Army. Upon examining his mobile phone, the police found pictures and videos of 24 different women, prompting further investigation.

The police stated that the accused is a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. Their investigation revealed that a woman had complained to him, alleging that she was married to Harshit Chaudhary according to Hindu customs. However, his behavior changed after marriage, and she later realized she had fallen victim to love jihad.

Accused Shahbaz had created a profile on Shaadi.com and other dating apps under the name of Hindu youth Harshit Chaudhary. He traveled to various cities to socialize with women. To gain their trust, he adopted a woman as his sister, who would meet other women and facilitate discussions about marriage. The police investigation revealed that he had been in contact with 15 women.

Accused Shahbaz Khan is the father of two children. The police learned that Shahbaz’s father, Mushtaq Ali Khan, is retired from the army and resides in Aligarh. Shahbaz joined the Army in 2015 through the sports quota and served in Siliguri, Jammu, and Kashmir but was expelled for not following army regulations. One of Shahbaz’s brothers is in the Indian Air Force, while his other brother is still studying. DeshGujarat

According to reports, a suitcase was stolen from Vande Bharat train in Gujarat a few days ago and a complaint was lodged with the Ahmedabad Railway Police. During the investigation, the police searched CCTV footage in which a young man was seen with the stolen suitcase. The railway reservation then inquired about him. Based on the documentation utilized for seat booking, he was identified as Harshit Chaudhary of Rajasthan. He was eventually arrested on 5th September. He was brought to Ahmedabad and interrogated after which it was discovered that his real name was Shahbaz Mushtaq Ali Khan.

He had obtained a fraudulent Aadhar Card in the name of Harshit Chaudhary. He not only posed as a Hindu but also an army officer. An ID card with his picture and phony name was also unearthed from him during the probe. The police further inquired about the matter and questioned him. Afterward, he confessed that he was originally from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district and lived in Maulana Azad Nagar.

He also confessed that he had employed these false identity cards to travel on three domestic flights and the same number of train trips. He admitted that the reason behind his actions was to flaunt his social status.

Investigating agencies are currently looking into the matter.
Shahbaz Ali is married and has two children. The authorities also learned about his father Mushtaq Ali Khan who is retired from the army and his brother who is serving in the Air Force. His other brother is still studying. The accused has been kept in judicial custody. The police are also inquiring whether he created an ID card to intimidate others or if there’s a sinister motive behind it.

Article written by and Editorial credit: State Bureau Chief Himanshu Nauriyal.