Three female students from TIT College in Bhopal were allegedly drugged, raped, and blackmailed by a group of current and former students in a case that has now exposed a pan-state predatory network linked to forced religious conversions.
Police have arrested four suspects, including prime accused Farhan Khan, and are pursuing three others, with investigations revealing obscene videos of 10–15 additional victims on seized devices. Charges under the POCSO Act, IT Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (replacing IPC sections), and Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act have been invoked.
Authorities confirm the network’s operations extended to Indore and Kolkata, with suspects using fake social media profiles and local businesses to groom victims.
Organised Exploitation: Fourth Arrest in Kolkata and Systematic Grooming Tactics
The fourth suspect, apprehended from Kolkata on July 10, was identified through Farhan Khan’s interrogation, which revealed a multi-city operation. Farhan, a final-semester MBA student at TIT College, allegedly stored over 50 explicit videos on his phone, including one showing three girls being assaulted simultaneously in a single room.
Another accused, Sahil Khan, operated a dance academy in Bhopal’s Ashoka Garden area, where he lured students with promises of career opportunities before spiking their drinks with cannabis-laced sweets and intoxicants.
Institutional Failures and Political Backlash
The case has sparked outrage over administrative lapses, as the accused operated unchecked for nearly a year. Opposition leaders have questioned the college’s failure to report suspicious activities, while student unions demand mandatory background checks for off-campus associations.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a notice to Madhya Pradesh Police, seeking a time-bound report on preventive measures.
Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra confirmed: “We’re auditing coaching centres and hostiles near educational institutions. The SIT will submit its findings within 15 days.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This case exposes the toxic intersection of gender violence and communal coercion, demanding urgent institutional reforms. The Logical Indian stands with survivors and urges platforms like Instagram to strengthen age-gating and content moderation to prevent grooming.
As a society, must we not question why such networks flourish in the shadows of our educational institutions? How can we build trust-based reporting mechanisms that protect survivors from retaliation? Share your solutions below.
