Mirzapur conversion racket: Accused with alleged Malaysia, Dubai links arrested
Investigators said they have obtained details of Imran's overseas trips and are examining whether the conversion gang had operational or financial connections in Malaysia and Dubai.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested Imran Khan, a key accused in the Mirzapur religious conversion and extortion racket, from Delhi airport as he was allegedly preparing to flee the country, dealing a major blow to a network investigators believe operated with foreign funding and overseas contacts.
Imran, who had been absconding for months and was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, was detained by a team from Mirzapur police shortly before boarding an international flight.
Officials said he was wanted in connection with a conversion gang that allegedly used gyms as fronts to trap, coerce and extort women.
According to police and sources familiar with the probe, Imran’s arrest follows a breakthrough in tracking the financial trail of the racket.
India Today has accessed exclusive details showing that bank accounts linked to the main accused, Farid and Irshad, recorded transactions worth several lakhs of rupees every month.
Investigators found deposits of Rs 22 lakh, Rs 22 lakh and Rs 32 lakh in Imran’s accounts over different periods.
These high-value transactions took place regularly between August 15, 2024 and February 2025, suggesting what officers describe as “a sustained flow of funds”.
“Evidence shows massive amounts being transferred month after month.
We suspect these are proceeds or operational funds linked to the conversion network,” a senior official said.
The agencies are now examining the source of these funds and how they were used, including whether the money financed foreign travel and the expansion of gyms allegedly used to recruit victims.
Investigators say Imran’s foreign visits have emerged as a critical lead.
His passport records confirm that he travelled to Dubai on January 27, 2024, at a time when the conversion activities were allegedly underway.
Sources told India Today he met several “suspicious individuals” in Dubai and discussed funding arrangements connected to the racket.
He is also believed to have travelled frequently to Malaysia, spending lakhs of rupees on overseas trips.
“These travels have deepened our suspicion of an organised funding network and possible international coordination,” an officer said.
The fresh developments build on a case that first surfaced after a woman called the 1090 women’s helpline in Mirzapur, alleging harassment and pressure to convert.
A subsequent search of a suspect’s phone led to the recovery of a password-protected folder containing photographs and videos of more than 50 women, exposing the scale of the operation.
Police later identified gyms such as KGN 1, KGN 2.0, KGN 3, Iron Fire and Fitness Club as hubs where women from affluent families were offered free training and then allegedly lured into personal relationships.
Investigators say compromising photographs were later used to blackmail and coerce some victims.
Police earlier arrested six accused, including Government Railway Police constable Shadab, who was taken into custody after an encounter.
Two others — Imran and Lucky Khan — were on the run until Imran’s arrest on Friday. Lucky Khan is still absconding.
Witness statements have added to the case. A person who frequented one of the gyms told investigators there were no female trainers, and that women were trained only by male staff, raising questions about the recruitment methods used.
Police believe Imran, along with an associate identified as Lucky Ali, played a central role in running the network, while Irshad and Farid allegedly handled operations on the ground and pressured women who approached the police.
With Imran now in custody, investigators plan to question him in detail about his foreign contacts, funding channels and the role of overseas meetings in sustaining the racket.
“The financial trail and international links are now at the heart of the investigation,” an officer said, as the search continues for the remaining fugitives.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested Imran Khan, a key accused in the Mirzapur religious conversion and extortion racket, from Delhi airport as he was allegedly preparing to flee the country, dealing a major blow to a network investigators believe operated with foreign funding and overseas contacts.
Imran, who had been absconding for months and was carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, was detained by a team from Mirzapur police shortly before boarding an international flight.
Officials said he was wanted in connection with a conversion gang that allegedly used gyms as fronts to trap, coerce and extort women.
According to police and sources familiar with the probe, Imran’s arrest follows a breakthrough in tracking the financial trail of the racket.
India Today has accessed exclusive details showing that bank accounts linked to the main accused, Farid and Irshad, recorded transactions worth several lakhs of rupees every month.
Investigators found deposits of Rs 22 lakh, Rs 22 lakh and Rs 32 lakh in Imran’s accounts over different periods.
These high-value transactions took place regularly between August 15, 2024 and February 2025, suggesting what officers describe as “a sustained flow of funds”.
“Evidence shows massive amounts being transferred month after month.
We suspect these are proceeds or operational funds linked to the conversion network,” a senior official said.
The agencies are now examining the source of these funds and how they were used, including whether the money financed foreign travel and the expansion of gyms allegedly used to recruit victims.
Investigators say Imran’s foreign visits have emerged as a critical lead.
His passport records confirm that he travelled to Dubai on January 27, 2024, at a time when the conversion activities were allegedly underway.
Sources told India Today he met several “suspicious individuals” in Dubai and discussed funding arrangements connected to the racket.
He is also believed to have travelled frequently to Malaysia, spending lakhs of rupees on overseas trips.
“These travels have deepened our suspicion of an organised funding network and possible international coordination,” an officer said.
The fresh developments build on a case that first surfaced after a woman called the 1090 women’s helpline in Mirzapur, alleging harassment and pressure to convert.
A subsequent search of a suspect’s phone led to the recovery of a password-protected folder containing photographs and videos of more than 50 women, exposing the scale of the operation.
Police later identified gyms such as KGN 1, KGN 2.0, KGN 3, Iron Fire and Fitness Club as hubs where women from affluent families were offered free training and then allegedly lured into personal relationships.
Investigators say compromising photographs were later used to blackmail and coerce some victims.
Police earlier arrested six accused, including Government Railway Police constable Shadab, who was taken into custody after an encounter.
Two others — Imran and Lucky Khan — were on the run until Imran’s arrest on Friday. Lucky Khan is still absconding.
Witness statements have added to the case. A person who frequented one of the gyms told investigators there were no female trainers, and that women were trained only by male staff, raising questions about the recruitment methods used.
Police believe Imran, along with an associate identified as Lucky Ali, played a central role in running the network, while Irshad and Farid allegedly handled operations on the ground and pressured women who approached the police.
With Imran now in custody, investigators plan to question him in detail about his foreign contacts, funding channels and the role of overseas meetings in sustaining the racket.
“The financial trail and international links are now at the heart of the investigation,” an officer said, as the search continues for the remaining fugitives.