An NGO in Nagpur that works for underprivileged children is at the centre of investigation after its president, Riyaz Fazil Qazi, was arrested on charges of alleged sexual abuse, religious coercion and cyberstalking of women employees, according to a report by The Times of India.
The case was registered at Mankapur police station late Saturday night under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These include charges related to assault on a woman, outraging modesty, obscene acts, hurting religious sentiments and defamation. Sections of the Information Technology Act have also been applied for alleged misuse of social media, TOI reported.
The complaint was filed by a 23-year-old woman, who claims she had been working as an administrator and HR head at the NGO since September 2023. In her statement, she detailed several instances of alleged misconduct. One such incident, as cited by TOI, occurred on July 18, 2024, when she was called into Qazi's cabin after her birthday celebration. She alleged that he hugged her without consent, kissed her forehead and said, “I don't want to leave you today.”
The complainant stated that she did not object at the time due to fear of losing her job. She further alleged that similar behaviour continued over time, including repeated attempts to approach her inappropriately. In one instance, she claimed that CCTV cameras were unplugged before such an attempt, as per the report.
The FIR also includes allegations of cyberstalking. According to TOI, the accused allegedly created a fake Instagram account using parts of both their names to monitor the online activity of female staff and volunteers.
Claims of religious coercion have also been mentioned. The complainant alleged that her older sister, who joined the NGO later, was pressured to follow specific religious practices, including reciting prayers during official travel and adhering to certain dress codes. She resigned within two months, the TOI reported stated.
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The complaint further stated that other women employees had similar experiences. At least one teacher resigned in 2024 citing the accused's conduct, while others reported discomfort due to Qazi's alleged behaviour and imposition of religious practices.
A separate allegation involves a phone call made on April 13 to a former employee's mother, during which the accused allegedly used derogatory language, as per the report. An audio clip of a similar conversation was also circulated among staff members.
Following the FIR, authorities have expanded the probe. The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has initiated a parallel inquiry into the NGO's operations and finances. Police said Qazi has been remanded in custody till April 23, and more complaints are likely to be recorded as the investigation progresses, TOI reported.
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The case comes just days after similar allegations at the TCS Nashik unit and Paratwada in Amravati, which prompted a wider probe.
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