Police in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district arrested Mohammed Mahfooz, a resident of Patna, Bihar, for allegedly posing as a Hindu man to deceive and exploit janjatiya women. The incident, reported on January 27, 2026, involves fake social media profiles and false claims of being a railway officer, highlighting ongoing concerns over fraudulent relationships targeting vulnerable Hindu girls.

Incident Background

Mohammed Mahfooz created a fake Facebook profile under the name “Tarun Paikra,” portraying himself as a Hindu youth from the region to target Janjatiya Hindu girls. He contacted victims late at night via social media, building trust by claiming employment as a railway officer posted in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, despite working at a clothing shop in Patna. Investigations revealed he trapped at least three girls from Surguja, luring them into physical relationships under false marriage promises.

Modus Operandi

Mahfooz used forged documents, including a fake Aadhaar card altering his name, caste, and religion to “Tarun Paikra” or “Swaraj Paikra,” to gain victims’ confidence. In one case, he booked a hotel room in Ambikapur using the alias “Swaraj Paikra” and stayed with a victim from Kanasabel area for two days. He defrauded at least one girl of money by fabricating stories about his job and repeatedly visiting the area to exploit more victims, including booking rooms for others as recently as January 17, 2026.

Victim’s Discovery and Arrest

A victim grew suspicious upon finding Mahfooz’s original identity through checks, leading her to alert police after he arrived for another meeting. She gathered her friends, informed authorities, and officers from Gandhinagar police station arrested him at the hotel. The complaint detailed physical exploitation, financial fraud, and repeated offenses, prompting immediate action under relevant sections for cheating, rape, and religious deception.

Police Investigation and Charges

Ambikapur police registered a case at Gandhinagar station following the FIR, confirming Mahfooz’s deception involved multiple janjatiya girls over time. No specific statistics on prior convictions were reported, but the probe uncovered his pattern of targeting Hindu Adivasi women via social media. Authorities seized his phone and fake IDs, with further inquiries into the extent of victims and potential accomplices ongoing as of January 27, 2026.

Broader Context in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has seen similar love jihad allegations in the past. The term refers to claims of Muslim men deceiving and sexually grooming Hindu women for conversion or exploitation. This aligns with national patterns, where police busted networks involving over 10 accused in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra case in 2025, involving fake identities and coercion. Authorities and Hindu organization emphasize vigilance on social media frauds amid rising cybercrimes and such grooming incidents.