Kamal Ghorui
LUCKNOW: Police investigation into the gym syndicate that ran an illegal religious conversion and AI-backed blackmail racket in Mirzapur has revealed that the gang targeted as many as 30 women. The gang was busted after two victims blew the lid off.Most of the victims were Hindu women who had joined the chain of five gyms for physical training. The gang targeted women by creating their AI-generated obscene videos and used them to blackmail and pressure them for religious conversion. The racket had been running since 2021, said police.Six accused, including a GRP head constable Irshad Khan, 40, have been arrested.The other five accused include gym owners and trainers — Mohammad Sheikh Ali Alam, 31, Faizal Khan, 34, Zaheer, 32, Shadab, 36, and Farid Ahmed, 28.Obscene AI-edited videos and photos recovered from the mobiles of the accused are a key evidence in the case, said police. The prime accused, gym owner Farid Ahmed, was arrested in an encounter after allegedly opening fire on a police team during a raid.SP/DIG Mirzapur, Somen Barma, told TOI that the racket came to light after two young women lodged separate complaints earlier this month, alleging that they were trapped, blackmailed, and pressured to change their religion using AI-generated obscene videos.Barma said the accused used to befriend women who joined their gyms and gradually gained access to their personal photographs and videos.“These were then morphed using AI tools to create explicit and obscene content. The victims were subsequently threatened with circulation of these AI-edited videos on social media unless they complied with the gang’s demands, which included sexual exploitation and coercion to convert religion,” Barma added.“Recovered mobiles contain dozens of AI-generated obscene videos and chats,” said another senior officer, adding that most of the accused are Class dropouts.GRP head constable Irshad Khan, posted in Bhadohi, allegedly provided logistical support and protection to the syndicate.Investigators said that 4 of the 5 gyms — KGN-1.0, KGN-2.0, KGN-3.0, B-Fit, and Iron Fire — were run by 3 brothers and their brother-in-law.Mirzapur DM Pawan Kumar Gangwar has sealed all five gyms under the scanner till Feb 27.Police are trying to trace more and find whether the racket had links beyond Mirzapur. Digital forensics teams are analysing data to determine how widely the AI-generated content was shared and whether similar methods were used in other districts.“This was not just a blackmail case. It was a systematic attempt to exploit women psychologically and socially using technology,” an officer said, adding that more arrests are likely to be made.Authorities have appealed to women who may have been targeted to come forward, assuring them protection and confidentiality.Police said many victims are married and do not want to report the case fearing social stigma and backlash from their families.
