The Allahabad High Court has granted anticipatory bail to a Msulim Class 12 student accused of attempting to forcibly convert the religion of her Hindu classmate, Bar and Bench reported on Wednesday.
In an order issued on Monday, Justice Avnish Saxena said that there is nothing on record other than the statement of the alleged victim to show the involvement of the Muslim girl, identified as Malishka alias Malishka Fatma.
Saxena also noted that Fatma had no criminal record.
The case under 2021 Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act is based on a complaint filed by the Hindu student’s brother, who alleged that his sister had been compelled to wear a burqa by a group of Class 12 Muslim students and was also being forced to accept Islam.
In a statement submitted to the police, the Hindu student claimed that the alleged events had taken place in December.
She alleged that Fatma, along with the other Muslim students, forced her to wear a burqa during an outing and also tried to get her to eat non-vegetarian food. She also told the court that the Muslim students had allegedly tried to get her to accept Islam.
Three of the Muslim students had moved the High Court challenging the first information report. They alleged that their Hindu classmate’s brother had been harassing one of the Muslim students. When she complained against him, he filed a complaint in retaliation, they added.
One of the students later withdrew her petition.
On April 16, the High Court refused to quash the criminal case against the two Muslim students. It also said that such a trend among young persons is “all the more disturbing”.
Earlier, it also granted anticipatory bail to another accused student, Aleena, Live Law reported.
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