Education Promise Turned Into Months Of Abuse
Surat: A trustee of a madrassa in Kudus town of Palghar district in Maharashtra was arrested by Bharuch police after a 22-year-old woman alleged that he sexually assaulted her repeatedly for nearly a year after convincing her family to send her for religious studies. He is also accused of blackmail, threats and forcing her to undergo abortions.Bharuch police arrested Mufti Alauddin Abdul Gaffar Ansari, 47, trustee and manager of the Anjuman-E-Taqdeerunisha Al Islamiya Lil Banat madrassa in Kudus, after a complaint was lodged at Bharuch Women’s police station on Monday. Ansari was produced before a court, which remanded him in police custody for two days.According to police sources, Ansari developed a relationship of trust with the woman’s family as her brother had studied at his institution. Police said the accused saw the woman’s photographs on her brother’s mobile phone and allegedly decided to target her.Bharuch deputy superintendent of police C K Patel told TOI: “The accused went to the victim’s home in Bharuch and spoke to her parents. He told them he would arrange for her religious studies and higher education and would bear all the expenses. He also offered a job alongside her studies. The family trusted him and sent the woman to his madrassa.“During her stay of around 11 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, the accused allegedly intimidated her and raped her several times. Worn down by the abuse, she eventually returned to her hometown of Bharuch.”Police said the alleged harassment continued even after the woman returned home. Ansari allegedly visited her residence in Bharuch and pressured her to return with him.“When she refused, he allegedly threatened to implicate her through a purported nikahnama, to circulate her private photographs on social media and to kill her,” Patel said.The woman eventually informed her parents about the alleged abuse, following which a complaint was filed.The investigation has been handed to Bharuch City A Division police inspector R M Vasava. Investigators are examining the accused’s mobile phone, documents, the alleged nikahnama and other evidence. Police are also probing if any other person was involved in the alleged offence. Ansari is married and has five children.
