Bangladeshi Transgender 'Guru Maa' Arrested in Mumbai for Trafficking 200 People and Document Fraud

Guru Maa (right) acquired counterfeit identification, including an Aadhar Card, to falsely establish Indian citizenship.

Mumbai:

Authorities in Mumbai apprehended a Bangladeshi transgender individual on Thursday who had been residing in India for three decades using fraudulent documentation.

The suspect, identified as Babu Ayan Khan, also known as Jyoti or 'Guru Maa', stands accused of trafficking approximately 200 Bangladeshi nationals into India. This figure may increase as Mumbai Police continue their investigation.

Operating as a spiritual figure, Jyoti had established herself as 'Guru Maa', a religious leader for the transgender community in Mumbai. She had amassed a following of 300 individuals across various neighborhoods in the city.

In a related incident, 25 transgender individuals were hospitalized in Madhya Pradesh after consuming phenyl.

To substantiate her false claims of Indian citizenship, Guru Maa had obtained fabricated documents including a birth certificate, Aadhar card, and PAN card. Her arrest followed police verification that revealed these documents were fraudulent.

Sources indicate that Guru Maa's trafficking operation facilitated illegal entry into India via the Murshidabad border in West Bengal.

After crossing the border, trafficking victims were temporarily housed in Kolkata, where they were provided with fake birth certificates and school-leaving certificates.

In reference to regional identity issues, author Taslima Nasreen recently commented that all Bengalis belong to India, prompting a response from Javed Akhtar.

The victims were subsequently transported to Mumbai and accommodated in Shivaji Nagar. Living conditions were cramped, with 3-4 people sharing each room, and they were required to pay Guru Maa a monthly rent of Rs 5,000-10,000.

Police investigations have uncovered that Guru Maa was involved in illegally occupying properties registered under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

Reports suggest she controlled over 200 residential properties, generating substantial rental income amounting to lakhs of rupees.

Additional information from investigative sources reveals that she coerced individuals into prostitution, dispatching them to various highway locations.