Mumbai: Mohammad Ayaz, also known as Tanveer, has emerged as the prime accused in a disturbing case involving the alleged sexual exploitation of at least 180 minor girls in Maharashtra’s Amravati district. His arrest has triggered widespread outrage and a multi-agency probe into what officials suspect could be a larger network.

A resident of Paratwada city, Ayaz is accused of luring minor girls through a so-called ‘love trap,’ befriending them via social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Snapchat before allegedly exploiting them. He would take victims to cities like Mumbai and Pune, where he filmed obscene videos.

According to an Media report quoting police sources, over 350 such videos were recorded, many of which were allegedly used to blackmail the victims. Some girls were reportedly coerced into prostitution, while certain videos were circulated online, raising concerns about digital exploitation and wider distribution networks.

The case gained momentum after Rajya Sabha MP Anil Bonde flagged the issue in a memorandum to Superintendent of Police (Rural) Vishal Anand, alleging systematic targeting of minors. Bonde also demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), warning of protests if swift action was not taken.

Ayaz’s background has also come under scrutiny. He had allegedly been associated with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the past. Social media posts showed him participating in political events and interacting with local leaders, including receiving a letter from party functionary Haji Irfan Khan. However, several such posts were deleted after the case surfaced.

Following the complaint, police acted swiftly and arrested Ayaz, producing him before a court, which remanded him to seven days in police custody. His mobile phone has been seized and is currently under forensic examination, with officials confirming the presence of multiple objectionable videos.

Cops are now working to determine whether Ayaz acted alone or was part of a larger criminal syndicate. The Cyber Cell has been engaged to trace the circulation of the videos and identify additional victims or accomplices.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya reacted to the sexual exploitation case in Amravati naming it as a ‘SEX Scam’. According to him, the accused and his associates targeted and abused multiple minor girls, aged 16–17, who were attending coaching classes for Classes 11 and 12. Victims from Paratwada, Achalpur, Amravati, and Nagpur were reportedly blackmailed.

Somaiya stated that he has spoken with police officials, MLA Pravin Tayade and MP Anil Bonde regarding the matter. He also mentioned that he has requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case.

New Delhi, April 15: Amid the continuing stir in Noida’s Phase 2 area, an alleged link to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) surfaced on Wednesday, with Noida police booking two party spokespersons over charges of spreading misinformation on social media.

According to officials, Priyanka Bharti and Kanchana Yadav – two RJD leading spokespersons and also well-known TV faces, have been named in the FIR lodged at the Cyber Crime Police Station.

The case pertains to the circulation of ‘misleading’ content during the labour unrest, which saw multiple incidents of vandalism and arson.

Noida Police, in its FIR, has said that the video purportedly shared by the duo on social media, was projected as the one from Noida stir but it was actually from an incident in Madhya Pradesh. The video clip reportedly showed police detaining an intoxicated individual, but was falsely circulated as an incident involving workers in Noida.

Authorities believe that the misleading posts contributed to confusion among the public and labourers, damaging the image of the police and potentially inciting unrest. The FIR notes that such actions may have been intended to provoke tension and disturb law and order.

Officials are now investigating the broader network behind the dissemination of such ‘misleading and misguiding’ content and examining multiple social media handles over alleged attempts to fan disturbance.

The development comes amid a crackdown following violent protests by workers in parts of Noida, where incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism and arson were reported.

Police have urged people not to share unverified information online and warned of strict action against those found spreading rumours or attempting to incite violence through social media platforms.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam chaired a meeting with outsourcing agencies and contractors associated with various industrial units, where it was decided that strict action, including blacklisting and licence cancellation, would be taken against agencies linked to any unruly behaviour by their personnel.

The meeting was convened to ensure full compliance with government guidelines across the district and maintain industrial peace amid ongoing labour-related concerns.

Addressing the participants, the District Magistrate emphasised the crucial role played by outsourcing agencies and contractors in the functioning of industries and in generating employment opportunities, according to an official statement.

Kalyan, April 14: In a major breakthrough in the high-profile NESCO Centre drugs party case, Mumbai Police have arrested alleged drug supplier Anand Patel, a Kalyan-based businessman, following a late-night raid that turned into a tense hour-long standoff.

According to officials, the operation was carried out with the assistance of Khadakpada Police after Mumbai Police received specific intelligence that Patel was hiding at his residence in Kalyan West. A police team immediately rushed to the location and coordinated with local authorities to execute the arrest.

Senior officers, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Atul Zende, were informed about the operation. Subsequently, a joint team led by Senior Police Inspector Amarnath Waghmode, along with officers Bhushan Devre, Kiran Shirke, Sanjay Chavan, Kundan Bhamre, and Suraj Khandale, reached the upscale Mohan Heights residential complex where Patel resides.

At the premises, police first encountered Patel’s father, Lakhan Patel, a businessman, who allegedly tried to mislead the officers by claiming that his son was not in Kalyan and had gone out of town. He also reportedly attempted to evade questioning, which further raised suspicion among the police team.

Acting on strong intelligence inputs, police escorted Lakhan Patel to the eighth-floor apartment. However, despite repeated knocking and instructions, the occupants refused to open the door. The situation soon escalated into a tense standoff, with police waiting outside for nearly an hour.

Officials made it clear that they would not leave without taking Patel into custody. Eventually, after continuous persuasion and intervention by his father, Anand Patel opened the door and was immediately detained by the police. Sources revealed that Patel had celebrated his birthday just two days earlier, and several relatives were present inside the house during the raid.

Following his detention, Khadakpada Police formally handed him over to Mumbai Police for further investigation in the NESCO drugs party case.

Preliminary investigation suggests that Patel, who claims to be a builder, played a key role in supplying drugs at the party. He is believed to have acted as a crucial link between the party organiser and drug suppliers. Police are now probing his wider network and suspect that he may have been involved in drug distribution activities in Kalyan and nearby areas as well.

Officials also stated that Patel’s father, Lakhan Patel, has multiple criminal cases registered against him, and his role, if any, will also be examined as part of the ongoing investigation. Further investigation is underway, and more arrests are likely as the probe deepens.