Allahabad High Court on Saturday granted bail to a pastor from Prayagraj, who was accused of forcefully converting 90 Hindus to Christianity. While granting bail to the pastor, the high court in its order said that on the basis of general allegations the pastor was made an accused.
During the hearing, the pastor’s counsel argued that out of 35 accused persons 6 accused persons have already been released on bail, and therefore on the ground of parity the applicant is also entitled to get bail.
Justice Sameer Jain allowed the bail application moved by the pastor (Vijay Masih), in the case that is lodged under Sections 153A, 506, 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC and under Section 3/5(1) of U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, at Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh.
An FIR was registered against the pastors and others at the Fatehpur Sikri police station by a person maned Himanshu Dixit on April 15, 2022, in connection with the case alleging that around 90 Hindus had assembled at the Evangelical Church of India, Hariharganj, Fatehpur for the purpose of their conversion to Christianity by luring them to convert to Christianity by offering them free medical assistance, job as well as monetary benefits.
The allegations against the accused persons also included that they had been trying to convert patients admitted to the Mission Hospital, and the employees of the hospital played an active role in it.
Previously, in connection with this case, a person named Bhanu Pratap Singh was denied anticipatory bail last week.
