The Gujarat High Court has made a significant remark while hearing petitions related to a religious conversion case. The court stated that even individuals claiming to be victims of religious conversion can face legal action if they attempt to influence or pressure others to convert.
Justice Neeraj Desai’s bench, while rejecting multiple petitions on October 1, emphasized that any person who tries to lure or coerce others into conversion commits a punishable offense under the law.
Court Rejects Petition to Quash FIR
According to reports, 16 people were named as accused in the case. Some of them approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR. However, the court refused their plea, observing that the allegations were clearly supported by witness statements and other materials included in the FIR.
Petitioners Claimed They Were Victims
The petitioners argued that they were originally Hindus who had converted to Islam under pressure and therefore should be treated as victims rather than accused. However, the court noted that they later influenced and pressured others to convert, which made them liable for prosecution.
Case Details from Bharuch District
The case originates from the Amod Police Station area in Gujarat’s Bharuch district. The FIR alleges that three individuals coerced and lured over 100 people belonging to around 37 Hindu families into converting to Islam. When one person objected, he was allegedly threatened, prompting him to lodge a police complaint.
Foreign Funding Angle
A foreign national has also been accused of funding the conversion activities. The Gujarat High Court denied relief to this individual as well, noting that he had visited India multiple times and was not cooperating with the investigation.
The case has been registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
Section 120B – Criminal conspiracy
Section 153B – Promoting enmity between different communities
Section 295A – Acts intended to outrage religious feelings
The court’s decision highlights that the law applies equally to all — whether they are initial victims or later participants — when it comes to illegal religious conversions.
