Mumbai: A Bangladeshi transgender, masquerading as a spiritual leader for nearly 30 years with fake Indian documents, has been arrested by the Mumbai Police.
Known locally as “Guru Maa”, she allegedly trafficking over 200 Bangladeshi nationals into India.
She has been identified as Babu Ayan Khan alias Jyoti. She entered India through the Murshidabad border in West Bengal many years ago. According to investigators, she managed to build a new identity in Mumbai’s transgender community by obtaining fake Indian documents, including a birth certificate, Aadhaar card, and PAN card.
Under her alias as a spiritual leader, Guru Maa gained the trust of hundreds of transgender individuals across Mumbai. She had nearly 300 followers and operated mainly in areas such as Rafiq Nagar, Govandi, and Shivaji Nagar.
It has now come to light that Guru Maa ran a large trafficking network that brought Bangladeshi nationals into India illegally. New entrants were first taken to Kolkata, where fake certificates were created for them, and later shifted to Mumbai. They were made to live in cramped rooms, paying rent between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 per month.
She was also involved in the illegal occupation of over 200 flats and huts registered under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). According to the police, she earned lakhs of rupees by renting these properties and even forced many trafficked women into the sex trade.
She was arrested after a detailed verification of her identity documents, which were found to be fraudulent. Guru Maa has been booked under immigration, forgery, and trafficking charges.
