Allahabad High Court Rejects Bail Application of Maulvi Accused Of Forcibly Converting Minor’s Religion

The Court was hearing a bail application with the prayer to release the applicant on bail in a case under Sections 504 and 506 IPC and Section 3/5(1) Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, during the pendency of the trial.

The bench of Justice Sameer Jain observed, “…I am not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage.”

Brief Facts-

In the present case an FIR was lodged against the applicant Maulvi Syed Shad Kazmi alias Mohd Shad and according to the FIR, applicant is the Maulvi in a Mosque and he after enticing the mentally retarded minor son of the informant forcibly kept him in a 'Madarsa' after changing his religion.

The Court said that considering the fact that applicant is the Maulvi in the Mosque and there is specific allegation that he forcibly changed the religion of mentally retarded minor son of the informant and son of the informant also stated against him in his statement recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. and applicant is in jail only since February, 2024, it is not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage.

Accordingly, the Court rejected the bail application.