Nagpur NGO director arrested as women allege harassment, “forced religious practices”

A major controversy has erupted in Nagpur after multiple women accused their employer, an NGO director, of sexual harassment and forcing them to follow specific religious practices. Acting on complaints filed by four female employees, police arrested Mohammed Riyaz Mohammed Fazil Qazi, director of the Universal Multipurpose Society. He has been sent to police custody until April 23 as investigations continue.

The women alleged that they were subjected to both physical and psychological harassment during their employment. According to their statements, they were compelled to offer namaz, observe roza, and recite duas, and were also instructed to use the greeting “Khuda Hafiz” when bidding farewell. They further claimed they were discouraged from following their own religious or traditional practices and were pressured to conform to these norms within the workplace.

One of the complainants, a 23-year-old woman, alleged that the accused would call her into his cabin and engage in inappropriate behaviour. She claimed that CCTV cameras were switched off before such incidents, during which he allegedly touched women inappropriately and committed acts of molestation. The complainants also alleged that the accused used fake social media accounts to monitor their activities outside the workplace.

Police officials stated that the behaviour of the accused had created a hostile work environment, forcing some employees to resign. In one instance, after an employee quit, the accused allegedly contacted her mother, made derogatory remarks, and attempted to malign the character of other women. Based on the complaints, a case has been registered under charges including sexual harassment, stalking, and outraging the modesty of a woman.

Officials have clarified that no direct evidence of forced religious conversion has been found so far. However, an investigation has been launched into the NGO’s activities and funding, and the accused’s mobile phone has been seized as part of the probe. The case remains under investigation as authorities examine all allegations in detail.