Palghar:
A 22-year-old social media influencer and gym trainer has been arrested in Maharashtra’s Palghar district following allegations of rape, physical abuse and attempts to force a woman to convert her religion under the pretext of marriage, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Arif Ayub Shaikh, was arrested from Nalasopara on Tuesday. The 23-year-old complainant alleged that she became acquainted with him through a social media platform in April 2025 and was sexually assaulted on several occasions after he gained her trust.
She also alleged that Shaikh and his mother, Ruksana, attempted to force her to convert her religion in connection with the proposed marriage. The woman further accused Shaikh’s cousin, Sahil Shaikh, of attempting to assault her.
Investigators recovered more than 100 explicit video clips from Shaikh’s mobile phone, officials said, adding that preliminary findings suggested some footage might have been circulated abroad.
The accused was produced before a local court and remanded in police custody for three days. Cases have been registered against Shaikh, his mother and his cousin under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to rape, wrongful confinement, assault, causing hurt and criminal intimidation.
Separately, Shaikh was booked earlier in the week over alleged objectionable remarks concerning the Navratri festival.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya described the matter as a case of “love jihad” and alleged that a larger network was exploiting young women in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. These are his allegations; the police investigation is continuing.