KGMU Conversion Scandal Deepens: Key Co-Accused Arrested for Coercing Victims into Religious Conversion and Exploitation

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In a significant development in the ongoing investigation at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow, police arrested 34-year-old Shariq Khan, a key co-accused, on January 29, 2026, for allegedly coercing female victims into religious conversion under the guise of marriage while aiding sexual exploitation by the prime accused. Khan, who carried a Rs 25,000 reward and faced a non-bailable warrant, was nabbed near Mehndi Ghat crossing in Thakurganj by a joint team from the Western Zone Surveillance Unit and Chowk police. This arrest, part of FIR No. 302/2025 filed on December 23, 2025, at Chowk police station, underscores escalating concerns over safety and ethical breaches in India’s premier medical institutions.

Case Background

The scandal erupted when a female MD Pathology resident at KGMU accused 31-year-old resident doctor Rameezuddin Nayak (alias Rameez Malik) of sexual exploitation, deceit, and pressuring her to convert to Islam as a condition for marriage. Rameez, already married, allegedly entered a physical relationship with the complainant by claiming he was single, then threatened to leak her private images and videos when she resisted conversion and tried to end the affair, leading to her suicide attempt on December 27, 2025. Police reports indicate Rameez targeted Hindu women, subtly criticizing their faith to manipulate them gradually toward conversion.

Rameez was arrested on January 10, 2026, suspended by KGMU, and remanded to judicial custody; his parents were detained earlier from Uttarakhand. The Uttar Pradesh Women’s Commission swiftly took cognizance, with chairperson Aparna Yadav demanding strict action and an STF probe. KGMU formed a fact-finding committee and Vishaka Committee, which found him guilty, barred him from campus, and handed the inquiry to the UP STF after Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sonia Nityanand briefed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Role of the Arrested Co-Accused

Shariq Khan emerged as a pivotal figure in the racket, confessing during interrogation to close ties with Rameez and pressuring victims using obscene videos to force conversions. He allegedly signed nikahnama (Islamic marriage documents) as a witness, formalized sham marriages post-conversion, and prepared fake documents with new names for converts. Police recovered digital evidence from his phone, sent for forensic analysis, revealing potential wider network links across Uttar Pradesh; Khan had recently acquired a passport, hinting at flight plans.

Investigators are probing financial trails, digital footprints, and interstate connections, including Pilibhit and Uttarakhand, with another nikahnama witness arrested there. Reports suggest involvement of a “kazi” (marriage officiant) like Jahid Hasan Rana and possible larger conversion schemes.

Legal Framework

The case invokes the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 (UPPUCRA), which bans conversions via misrepresentation, force, coercion, allurement, fraud, or marriage, deeming them non-bailable offenses. Punishments range from 1-5 years imprisonment and Rs 15,000 fine standardly, escalating to 2-10 years (Rs 25,000 fine) for women/minors/SC/ST victims, or 3-10 years (Rs 50,000) for mass conversions. The FIR also cites Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for sexual exploitation, fraud, intimidation, and abetment to suicide.

This law requires district magistrate approval for marriage-related conversions and targets organized rackets, reflecting Uttar Pradesh’s crackdown on “love jihad” allegations.

Institutional and Community Response

KGMU issued campus notices urging sealed complaints from staff/students about similar incidents, emphasizing confidentiality amid threats to the complainant. Doctors, nurses, and the National Medicos Organisation (NMO) protested delays in FIR filing and demanded enhanced security, halting only after assurances. VC Nityanand assured transparency, banning religious sermons on campus.

The UP STF probe, endorsed by the CM, aims to unearth any broader network, with digital forensics key. No direct expert quotes from unaffiliated professionals were available, but Dr. KK Singh, KGMU spokesperson, stressed patient care continuity during unrest.

Public Health and Ethical Implications

This scandal erodes trust in medical training environments, where hierarchical doctor-senior dynamics can enable exploitation, potentially deterring female residents (who form ~50% of PG seats in India) from pursuing specialties like pathology. It highlights vulnerabilities in high-stress hostels, urging mandatory ethics modules, anti-harassment cells, and interfaith sensitivity training.

For healthcare professionals, it signals the need for vigilance against personal entanglements blurring into coercion. Patients may question caregiver integrity, impacting care-seeking. Practically, residents should report via anonymous channels, seek counseling, and verify partners’ backgrounds amid rising urban anonymity.

Limitations and Broader Context

While confessions and evidence bolster the case, forensic results and full network mapping are pending; allegations of prior cover-ups by department head Wahid Ali remain unproven. Defenders might argue personal disputes exaggerated into communal narratives, but police actions indicate prima facie violations.

Similar cases in medical colleges underscore systemic gaps, yet convictions under UPPUCRA are rare due to evidentiary hurdles. Balanced reporting avoids presuming guilt pre-trial, focusing on accountability.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.

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