A Bangladeshi trans person, living in India illegally for nearly 30 years, was arrested on Thursday in Mumbai. The person, known by several names, Babu Ayan Khan, Jyoti, and ‘Guru Maa’, had been using fake documents to claim Indian citizenship. Police say Guru Maa is the mastermind behind a large human trafficking network and may have trafficked over 200 people from Bangladesh into India.

Guru Maa had been living in Mumbai as a spiritual leader, especially among the transgender community. She had about 300 followers from different parts of the city. She claimed to be a guide and protector for trans people, but behind this image, she was involved in serious crimes.

To stay in India, Guru Maa got a fake birth certificate, Aadhaar card, and PAN card. These made it appear she was Indian, but when the police recently checked her records, they found the documents were fake, leading to her arrest.

Police say Guru Maa ran a trafficking network that brought people into India illegally through the Murshidabad border in West Bengal. After crossing the border, the trafficked people were kept in Kolkata for a few days. During this time, fake documents, such as birth certificates and school-leaving certificates, were created for them.

Later, the trafficked people were sent to Mumbai and made to live in small rooms in Shivaji Nagar. Each room housed 3–4 people, and they were required to pay a high rent, ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month to Guru Maa.

The investigation also revealed that Guru Maa had illegally occupied over 200 flats and huts that were supposed to be given to poor families under a government housing scheme (MHADA). She rented out these homes and made lakhs of rupees.

Even more disturbingly, sources said she also forced some people into prostitution and sent them to highways to earn money. Mumbai Police have launched a full investigation, and the number of victims may increase as more details come out.