What began as a seemingly harmless phone call has now become the strongest piece of evidence against the arrested NGO director. The call, allegedly made to scare and mislead, has instead uncovered a troubling pattern of harassment, manipulation and misuse of power inside the office. More importantly, it gave the victim - and others - the confidence to step forward and speak out. Riyaz Fazil Quazi (48), who runs the ‘Universal Multipurpose Society’ in Zingabai Takli and lives in Nasheman Society, Anant Nagar, was arrested on Sunday after a complaint was filed by a 23-year-old woman working as an HR manager in his office.

 

On Monday, police said the investigation is now centred around a phone call he allegedly made to the victim’s mother - one that has turned into a crucial evidence. According to police, Quazi is suspected to have made the call anonymously in an attempt to influence the mother and distance the victim from the three former colleagues. During the conversation, the caller warned the mother to keep her daughter away from those women, accusing them of attending late-night parties and being involved in “immoral activities”. But the plan didn’t go as intended. The victim’s mother had recorded the call on her phone. Investigators say the audio clearly suggests an attempt to mislead and defame the women. “The recording is a key piece of evidence.

 

We are currently verifying the voice and other technical details,” a police officer said. At first, the mother believed what she heard and questioned her daughter, which led to tension at home. However, when the victim later listened to the recording herself, she realised the caller was allegedly Quazi. She immediately contacted the three former employees and informed them. Soon after, all four women went to the police station together, accompanied by local Bajrang Dal members, and filed a complaint. Based on their statements and the recorded call, police registered a case and arrested Quazi on Sunday. The complainant has also accused Quazi of inappropriate behaviour at work. She said that, during her birthday celebration in 2024, he hugged her without consent. She further alleged that he frequently called her to his cabin and tried to get physically close, which she resisted. According to her, after she opposed him, he began defaming her and even created a fake Instagram account to monitor her activities. Police said, other women employees have also raised concerns about his conduct. Quazi was produced in court and has been remanded to police custody till April 23. 

 

 

Alongside the harassment case, police have now widened the investigation to examine the financial dealings of Quazi’s NGO. Senior officials confirmed that all bank accounts, transactions, and funding sources linked to the ‘Universal Multipurpose Society’ will be scrutinised. “We will examine all bank details and funding patterns. If we find any irregularities, strict action will follow,” a senior officer said.