Lucknow: A religious conversion racket that has recently been busted had devised a secret codeword — “Revert” — to refer to individuals who had converted to Islam, investigators revealed on Sunday. The term was used to denote ‘ghar wapsi’ or a spiritual return to their so-called original faith. Interrogations by Uttar Pradesh Police, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials have unveiled a deep and systematic process by which conversions were carried out, often trapping young women and men through false promises and coercion.
Police have arrested ten individuals, six of whom were originally Hindus but had converted and even changed their names. For instance, SB Krishna adopted the name Ayesha, Rupendra Baghel became Abu Rehman, Manoj turned into Mustafa, Shekhar Roy was renamed Ali Hasan, and Piyush Singh Panwar assumed the identity Mohammad Ali. According to officials, these individuals were not only converted but also used to lure others into the racket.
“After conversion, many proudly displayed their new identity on social media platforms under the name Revert,” said a senior police officer involved in the probe. Multiple fake social media accounts were also found under this alias. The gang also allegedly helped individuals get new Voter ID and Aadhaar cards in Kolkata, enabling them to vote under their changed identities.
The conversion process was made to appear legal. After advertisements in local newspapers, the group would file petitions in court and get official papers made, followed by nikah (marriage). Once these legal steps were taken, returning to their families became almost impossible for the women involved, police sources said.
Two sisters, for example, left home with just ₹25,000 and some jewellery despite the gang advising them against bringing valuables. They first travelled to Delhi, then Muzaffarpur, and finally to Kolkata. There they met a man named Osama, who arranged hotel accommodation and later rented them a room for ₹30,000 via an agreement that also required them to pay ₹6,000 per month.
The area in Kolkata where they were housed, known as Tapsia, was referred to as a “safe zone” by the gang — a shelter for other converts undergoing religious instruction (Deeni Taleem). Investigators said several other young men and women were being kept in similar safe zones awaiting full conversion.
Adult women targeted for easier court procedures
The gang’s strategy relied heavily on targeting adult women, as it helped bypass legal barriers. Adult women could appear in court claiming to have converted of their own free will, thus weakening any parental or legal opposition.
Police also revealed that these women were then used to recruit more people into the network — often from their own social or family circles.
The arrested suspects are currently on ten-day police remand, and further interrogation is expected to reveal more links, including financial trails and digital footprints. Authorities are also probing the role of clerics and legal facilitators who may have helped in documentation and religious formalities.
A senior ATS official said, “We are looking into whether there is a larger interstate network involved. This appears to be an organised operation with a clear chain of command and support structure.”
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.
