`Jihad AI Akbar’: Kota Conversion & Digital Exploitation Case
The Kota case highlights concerns over the use of digital platforms for online exploitation and possible cross-border coordination.
Total Views |
Jaipur, Jul 01: The arrest of Manish Sharma alias Moin Khan in Rajasthan's Kota district has drawn attention to an alleged digital network involving religious conversion, online exploitation, and cross-border communication. Acting on a complaint by the Bajrang Dal, police recovered objectionable videos of Hindu women and girls from the accused's mobile phone and alleged that he operated multiple social media groups used to target victims.
Alleged Objectives of the Network
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The investigation intensified after forensic analysis reportedly uncovered deleted data and three audio recordings allegedly linked to individuals based in Pakistan. Security agencies are examining these materials to determine the authenticity of the recordings and whether they indicate the existence of a larger organised network, referred to during the investigation as "Jihad Al Akbar."
What is the Alleged ‘Jihad Al Akbar’ Network?
According to investigators, "Jihad Al Akbar" refers to an alleged digital campaign operated through platforms such as Telegram, Snapchat, and Discord. The recovered audio recordings reportedly suggest that individuals based in Pakistan guided local operatives in India through secret online groups.
One recording allegedly claims that the operation has existed since 1992, although authorities are yet to independently verify this assertion.
ALSO READ: Congress's Convenience On SIR
Investigators believe the network primarily sought to target Hindu women for religious conversion using fake social media identities. Victims were allegedly manipulated into relationships and later subjected to blackmail and exploitation.
The recovered material also indicates that the network intended to collect information on Hindu-Muslim relations and promote communal discord. Authorities are investigating whether organisations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were also intended targets.
Recruitment and Training of Local Operatives
According to the recovered audio, local Muslim youths were allegedly encouraged to recruit their friends and classmates through private meetings and online communication. Religious narratives were reportedly used to influence recruits before they were gradually introduced to the network's activities.
Alleged Targeting of Married Hindu Women
Police allege that married Hindu women and minor girls were specifically targeted. The recordings reportedly instructed operatives to identify women displaying Hindu symbols such as a mangalsutra and sindoor.
Victims were allegedly contacted through fake social media accounts, manipulated into relationships, and later blackmailed using objectionable videos involving Hindu religious symbols. These allegations remain under investigation.Profile of the Accused
According to police records, the accused was originally known as Manish Sharma and later adopted the name Moin Khan after converting to Islam. A resident of Vigyan Nagar, Kota, he had studied up to Class 10, worked at a local shop, and married in 2021.
Investigators allege that he maintained contact with individuals in Pakistan through Telegram and Discord. His activities came under scrutiny following information received through a Bajrang Dal helpline, leading to the seizure of his mobile phone and the recovery of thousands of objectionable digital files.
ALSO READ: Delhi HC Upholds Selection of India’s Dressage Team for Asian Games
Contents of the Recovered Audio Recordings
- Police sources state that the three audio recordings contain references to:
- an alleged operation active since 1992;
- messages promoting religious superiority and hostility toward Hindu beliefs; and
- instructions advising an individual identified as "Vakas" to remain anonymous to avoid detection by Indian security agencies.
The recordings are currently undergoing forensic examination.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
A case was registered on 15 June 2026 at the Vigyan Nagar and Udyog Nagar police stations in Kota based on a complaint filed by Bajrang Dal activist Yogesh Renwal. The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, and has been remanded to judicial custody.
The mobile phone has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for examination. Bajrang Dal has also approached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs seeking a wider investigation, while security agencies continue to examine possible links with other cross-border extremist activities.
The Kota case highlights concerns over the use of digital platforms for online exploitation and possible cross-border coordination. While investigators believe the recovered evidence points to a larger organised network, many of the allegations including the existence and scope of the alleged "Jihad Al Akbar" campaign remain subject to forensic verification and judicial scrutiny. The findings of the ongoing investigation will be crucial in determining the extent of the alleged operation and any wider security implications.