NAGPUR: The president of an NGO working with underprivileged children in northwest Nagpur has been arrested following allegations of sexual abuse, religious coercion, defamation, and cyberstalking involving multiple young women, police said.
The accused, Riyaz Fazil Qazi, was taken into custody soon after an FIR was registered at Mankapur police station on Saturday night. The case has also drawn the attention of intelligence agencies, with the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) launching a parallel probe into the NGO’s background, funding, and possible links beyond its stated activities.
Police have invoked several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including provisions related to assault or use of criminal force against a woman, obscene acts, hurting religious sentiments, and defamation. Section 66-B of the Information Technology Act has also been applied for alleged misuse of social media to stalk women.
The primary complainant, a 23-year-old woman who worked as the NGO’s administration and HR head since September 2023, accused Qazi of inappropriate physical advances. In her complaint, she alleged that on her birthday in July 2024, he called her into his cabin, hugged her without consent, kissed her forehead, and made suggestive remarks. She said she remained silent initially due to fear of losing her job.
The complaint details multiple instances of alleged misconduct, including repeated attempts to hug her and an incident where the accused allegedly disabled CCTV cameras before approaching her. She also claimed he monitored female staff and volunteers through a fake Instagram account.
Further allegations include coercion of the complainant’s elder sister—who briefly worked at the NGO—to follow specific religious practices, including reciting prayers and adhering to a particular dress code. The sister resigned within two months.
The complainant also alleged that other employees left the organisation due to similar behaviour, including inappropriate staring and attempts to impose religious customs on staff from different faiths.
In a separate allegation, Qazi is accused of making defamatory remarks during a phone call to a former employee’s mother, using derogatory language against the complainant, her sister, and their acquaintances. An audio recording of a similar conversation was reportedly circulated among colleagues.
When the complainants approached the NGO office on April 18, they found it closed and subsequently went to the police.
The NGO, located about a kilometre from the police station, has been operational since 2010 and is known for education initiatives, health camps, and outreach programmes in local slum areas.
Senior inspector Haresh Kalsekar said Qazi was produced before a court on Sunday and remanded to police custody till April 23. “We are investigating the case from multiple angles. Three women have already come forward, and more are likely to record their statements,” he said.
Police are examining CCTV footage, call records, social media activity, and audio evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.
