Bangladeshi trans woman living in India on fake papers arrested in Mumbai; accused of trafficking 200 people

Accused Babu Ayan Khan also linked to prostitution and MHADA housing encroachment racket

October 17, 2025

Bangladeshi Trans Woman ‘Guru Maa’ Arrested in Mumbai for Trafficking and Fake ID Racket

Self-styled ‘Guru Maa’ identified as Babu Ayan Khan smuggled dozens from Bangladesh into India over decades

A Bangladeshi trans woman who had been living in India for nearly 30 years using forged identity documents was arrested by the Mumbai Police on Thursday.

The accused, identified as Babu Ayan Khan, also known as Jyoti and ‘Guru Maa’, is suspected of running a large human trafficking network that allegedly smuggled around 200 Bangladeshi nationals into India. Officials said the number could rise as investigations progress.

‘Guru Maa’ and Her Follower Network

According to police sources, Jyoti had reinvented herself in Mumbai’s trans community as a self-styled spiritual leader, or “Guru Maa,” with a following of nearly 300 devotees across the city.

Investigators said she procured a fake birth certificate, Aadhaar, and PAN card to establish herself as an Indian citizen. However, a recent verification of the documents exposed the forgery, leading to her arrest.

Trafficking Route and Operations

Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused facilitated illegal entries from Bangladesh through the Murshidabad border in West Bengal. Those trafficked were initially held in Kolkata, where they were issued fake birth and school certificates, before being moved to Mumbai.

Police said the trafficked individuals were housed in Shivaji Nagar, where 3–4 people were packed into small rooms and charged between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 per month in rent, collected by Guru Maa.

Encroachment and Prostitution Rackets

Officials also discovered that Guru Maa was allegedly involved in the illegal occupation of more than 200 flats and huts under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). These properties were then rented out for profit, police said.

Further, investigators suspect she forced several individuals into prostitution, sending them to various locations and highways across Maharashtra.

The Mumbai Police have launched a comprehensive probe into her activities and are coordinating with central agencies to trace her associates and uncover the full scale of the trafficking network.

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