India, June 18 -- Police have arrested a cleric, Maulana Hazrat, who was wanted in connection with the alleged forced conversion and abuse of a 24-year-old woman, the wife of an Indian Air Force official, officials said.

The accused cleric was arrested from Madhya Pradesh following an investigation into a case that has triggered widespread outrage after disturbing allegations of sexual assault, blackmail, and forced religious conversion surfaced.

According to police, the main accused, Ayyaz Madare, along with his associate Ameen Shaikh, is already in custody. The cleric is alleged to have played a key role in conducting religious rituals and facilitating the alleged conversion and "nikah" of the victim.

The case came to light after a v...