Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have become hubs for connecting people, but they’re also being misused for deceptive practices labeled “Social Media Love Jihad.” This term refers to cases where individuals, often Muslim men, allegedly use fake identities—typically Hindu names—to lure Hindu women into relationships, hiding their true religion with intent to convert or exploit. In 2025, India has seen a surge in such cases, sparking outrage and calls for stricter laws. This article covers 8-10 recent incidents, highlighting how social media enables these schemes and why platforms like Meta and X need ID verification. It also urges government action to protect vulnerable women.
What Is Social Media Love Jihad?
The term “Social Media Love Jihad” describes a pattern where men, often Muslim, allegedly create fake social media profiles with Hindu names to befriend Hindu women. These relationships, built on lies, may lead to coercion, blackmail, or forced conversion. In 2025, cases in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have raised alarms. Critics argue it’s a deliberate tactic, while others see it as isolated crimes. Posts on X show public frustration, with users demanding accountability from platforms. Social media’s anonymity makes it easy for offenders to hide their identity, targeting young women through chats or games like PUBG. This has led to calls for mandatory ID verification on platforms and tougher laws. The issue, tied to cultural tensions, needs urgent action to ensure safety without fueling hate.
How It Works
Offenders create fake profiles with Hindu names, often using photos of others. They build trust through chats, calls, or gaming apps, hiding their religion. Once trust is gained, they may push for marriage, conversion, or exploit victims with threats.
Why Social Media Is a Hub
Social media’s reach and anonymity make it a perfect tool for deception. Platforms don’t require ID proof, letting users create multiple fake accounts. Games like PUBG or Instagram DMs provide easy access to young women, amplifying risks.
Case 1: Kanpur’s Sartaj Posing as Sonu
In June 2025, Kanpur police arrested Sartaj, who posed as Sonu on Instagram. He befriended a Hindu girl, promising love, but later blackmailed her with explicit videos, demanding she erase an “Om” tattoo and convert to Islam. The girl’s complaint led to an FIR under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law. Police found Sartaj had targeted others using fake IDs. Posts on X went viral, with users slamming Instagram’s lax policies. The case, reported on June 11, highlighted how fake profiles exploit trust. The victim’s family faced social stigma, while Sartaj remains in custody. This incident fueled demands for ID verification to curb such crimes, with locals rallying for justice.
The Victim’s Story
The Kanpur girl, 22, met “Sonu” on Instagram in 2024. After months of chats, he recorded intimate calls, threatening to leak them unless she converted. Her courage to report him exposed the scam.
Police Action
Kanpur police acted swiftly, tracing Sartaj’s real identity via his phone. An FIR was filed on June 10 under anti-conversion and IT laws. He’s now in jail, with further probes ongoing.
Case 2: Bhopal Gym Trainer Scandal
In Bhopal, five Muslim gym trainers were caught in June 2025 using fake Hindu names to train Hindu women. Bajrang Dal tipped off police, who found the trainers targeted clients for relationships, allegedly pushing conversion. One victim, a college student, said her trainer, “Aman,” was Ishtiyak Ahmed, who pressured her to marry him. The case, exposed on June 1, led to arrests under Madhya Pradesh’s Freedom of Religion Act. Posts on X praised Bajrang Dal’s vigilance but criticized gyms and social media for enabling such deceit. The incident sparked protests, with calls for stricter platform regulations. Police are probing if this was an organized network.
How It Unfolded
The trainers used Instagram to connect with clients, posing as Hindus. One victim’s complaint revealed “Aman’s” true identity, leading to a raid. Evidence included fake IDs and chat logs.
Community Backlash
Bhopal residents protested, demanding gyms verify trainers’ identities. Posts on X called it a “love jihad hub,” urging platforms like Instagram to enforce ID checks to prevent such cases.
Case 3: Noida’s Instagram Deception
In Noida, Mubsmir, posing as Sachin on Instagram, was arrested on June 9, 2025, for trapping a Hindu woman. He befriended her in 2023, married her, and got her pregnant before demanding conversion. When she refused, he turned abusive. Her family’s complaint led to his arrest under anti-conversion laws. Police found he used multiple fake profiles. Posts on X labeled it a “love jihad” case, with users urging X to verify accounts. The victim, now in counseling, faced immense trauma. The case highlighted how Instagram’s lack of ID checks enables predators. Uttar Pradesh police are investigating similar complaints, fearing a wider network.
The Relationship Trap
Mubsmir, 28, used “Sachin’s” profile to charm the victim with gifts and calls. After marriage, he revealed his identity, pressuring her to convert and isolate from her family.
Legal Consequences
Noida police charged Mubsmir under anti-conversion and domestic violence laws. He’s in custody, and authorities are probing his other fake accounts to identify more victims.
Case 4: Indore’s Qawwal Caught
On June 1, 2025, Indore police arrested qawwal Naushal Ali Khan for targeting a Hindu girl in a “love jihad” case. Posing as a Hindu on Facebook, he rented a flat near a RSS office to meet her. Angry locals tipped off police, who found evidence of coercion. The girl, 20, said Naushal pressured her to convert. He was charged under Madhya Pradesh’s anti-conversion law. Posts on X hailed the arrest but slammed Facebook for allowing fake profiles. The case, near a sensitive area, heightened tensions. Police are checking if Naushal targeted others, while the victim’s family seeks privacy.
The Setup
Naushal used a fake Hindu name on Facebook, chatting with the girl for months. He chose a flat near a RSS office to avoid suspicion, but locals grew wary.
Public Reaction
Indore saw protests, with locals demanding stricter social media rules. Posts on X called for ID verification, arguing platforms must act to stop such predatory behavior.
Case 5: Umaria’s PUBG Scam
In Umaria, Madhya Pradesh, Salman, an egg seller, was arrested on June 2, 2025, for posing as a Hindu on PUBG. He befriended an 18-year-old Hindu girl, convincing her to elope to Bihar. There, he forced her into a nikah and to recite the Kalma. She was rescued after alerting her family. Police charged him under anti-conversion laws. Posts on X raged against PUBG’s role, calling for gaming apps to verify identities. The case showed how gaming platforms are new fronts for deception. The girl is back home, but her family faces social stigma.
The Deception
Salman met the girl in PUBG matches, using a Hindu name. He built trust over voice chats, luring her to Bihar with marriage promises, only to reveal his true intent.
Rescue Efforts
Her family, with police help, traced her to Madhubani, Bihar. She was rescued within days, and Salman was arrested. Authorities are probing his PUBG contacts for other victims.
Case 6: Bhopal’s Dalit Woman Targeted
A Dalit woman in Bhopal filed a complaint on June 1, 2025, against a Muslim man who posed as a Hindu on WhatsApp. He forced her into unnatural acts, recorded videos, and blackmailed her, demanding her 14-year-old son’s circumcision. Police arrested him under anti-conversion and SC/ST laws. Posts on X called it a “heinous love jihad case,” urging Meta to verify WhatsApp accounts. The victim’s trauma sparked local outrage, with protests demanding justice. Police suspect he targeted other Dalit women, using fake IDs. The case underscores the need for platform accountability to protect marginalized communities.
The Crime
The man, using a Hindu name, chatted with the woman for months, gaining her trust. He recorded explicit videos during their meetings, using them to blackmail her into compliance.
Community Support
Dalit groups rallied for the victim, demanding harsh punishment. Posts on X criticized WhatsApp’s lack of ID checks, calling for government oversight to protect vulnerable women.
Case 7: Nalgonda’s Fake ID Marriage
In Nalgonda, Telangana, Mohammad Saif Ali was reported on June 3, 2025, for marrying a Hindu girl, Navya, after posing as a Hindu on Instagram. He allegedly trapped her in a “love jihad” scheme, pressuring conversion post-marriage. Locals alerted authorities, but he remains at large. Posts on X urged police to save Navya, criticizing Instagram’s lax policies. The case, still under investigation, has raised fears of similar scams in Telangana. Navya’s family is seeking her return, while activists demand ID verification on social media. This incident highlights the urgency of protecting young women online.
Navya’s Ordeal
Saif Ali, using a fake Hindu name, wooed Navya for a year. After marriage, he demanded conversion, isolating her. Her family’s complaint triggered a police hunt for him.
Ongoing Search
Nalgonda police are tracking Saif Ali, but he’s absconding. Posts on X call for swift action, urging platforms to verify identities to prevent such cases in future.
Case 8: Bhopal College Gang Busted
In Bhopal, a gang targeting Hindu college girls was busted in May 2025. Led by Farhan, they used fake Hindu names on Instagram to befriend students, sexually exploiting and blackmailing them with videos. A victim’s complaint led to 12 arrests under Madhya Pradesh’s Freedom of Religion Act. Posts on X labeled it a “love jihad network,” demanding Meta’s accountability. The case, reported on May 29, revealed an organized operation, with police probing interstate links. Victims face stigma, while protests call for stricter social media laws. This case shows the scale of the problem, needing urgent action.
Gang’s Modus Operandi
The gang used fake profiles to chat with girls, inviting them to meetups. They recorded assaults, using videos to force conversion or silence. Police found multiple victims.
Police Crackdown
Bhopal police formed a SIT to probe the gang, arresting 12 men. They’re investigating digital platforms and possible international links, urging victims to come forward.
Why Social Media Platforms Must Act
Social media’s role in these cases is undeniable. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and PUBG allow fake profiles without ID checks, enabling predators to thrive. In 2025, public anger, seen in X posts, demands Meta and X verify accounts with government IDs like Aadhaar. This would curb anonymity, making it harder to deceive. Platforms argue privacy concerns, but safety must come first. Cases like Bhopal and Kanpur show the human cost of inaction. Governments should push laws requiring verification, while platforms must invest in monitoring. Without change, social media will remain a hub for “love jihad” scams, endangering more women.
Need for ID Verification
Mandatory ID checks, like linking accounts to Aadhaar, would expose fake profiles. X posts urge Meta and X to act, citing cases where anonymity enabled crime. Safety outweighs privacy concerns.
Platform Accountability
Social media firms profit from user engagement but dodge responsibility. They must monitor chats, flag fake accounts, and cooperate with police. Bhopal’s gang case shows the need for proactive steps.
Government’s Role: Protecting Hindu Women
India’s government must act to stop “Social Media Love Jihad.” States like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have anti-conversion laws, but enforcement varies. In 2025, cases like Noida and Indore show the need for national guidelines. The government should mandate ID verification for social media accounts and fund cybercrime units to track offenders. Awareness campaigns can educate Hindu girls about online risks. Posts on X demand stricter laws, with some fearing cultural erosion. A balanced approach—tough laws without communal hate—is key. Protecting women requires coordination between states, police, and platforms to ensure justice and safety.
Stronger Laws Needed
Anti-conversion laws must be uniform across India, with clear penalties for digital deception. X posts call for a national “love jihad” law to deter offenders and protect victims.
Awareness Campaigns
Government-led campaigns can teach girls to spot fake profiles and report suspicious chats. Schools and NGOs should train youth on safe social media use, reducing risks.
The Bigger Picture: Balancing Safety and Harmony
The “Social Media Love Jihad” issue is complex, tied to crime, culture, and politics. Cases like Kanpur and Bhopal fuel anger, but solutions must avoid hate. ID verification and stricter laws can curb deception without targeting communities. Posts on X show polarized views—some demand justice, others warn of Islamophobia. Social media platforms and the government must work together to protect women while fostering harmony. The 2025 cases are a wake-up call: without action, more lives will be ruined. By learning from these tragedies, India can make social media safer for all.
Avoiding Communal Tensions
Tough laws must focus on crime, not religion, to prevent hate. X posts urging “sterilization” or violence risk division, needing moderation to keep peace.
A Call for Unity
Protecting women unites all communities. Government and platforms should promote trust, ensuring justice for victims like Navya without fueling division, as seen in X debates.
