The third accused in the alleged rape, blackmail, extortion and forced religious conversion case involving a 24-year-old married woman has surrendered before the Sonegaon Police and has been arrested.
According to police, Maulana Mazrat Mahmood Maqsood, who had been on the run since the case came to light, surrendered at the Sonegaon Police Station late on Wednesday night. He will be produced before a local court on Thursday for further legal proceedings.
The case surfaced after a 24-year-old married woman lodged a complaint alleging that her former school acquaintance, Ayyaz Taj Madare, befriended her under the pretext of assisting in a property transaction. The complainant alleged that during a meeting in February 2025, she was administered an intoxicating substance and compromising photographs and videos were recorded without her consent. She further alleged that the material was later used to blackmail her, extort money and pressure her into religious conversion.
Police had earlier arrested co-accused Ayyaz Taj Madare and Ameen Shaikh, while Maqsood was absconding. The woman alleged that Maqsood played a role in efforts to compel her to convert and in facilitating related activities connected to the case.
With the surrender and arrest of the third accused, all named suspects in the case are now in police custody. Investigators are continuing to probe the allegations, including the alleged extortion of money, criminal intimidation and the circumstances surrounding the alleged conversion attempts.
Confirming the development, Singa Reddy Rushikesh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1), said that the absconding accused surrendered before Sonegaon Police late Wednesday night and has been formally arrested. Further investigation is underway.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com