Allahabad Mass Religious Conversion Case: HC Grants Interim Relief To The Accuses

The Allahabad High Court recently granted interim relief to two men accused of alluring Hindus to convert to Christianity illegally by promising them monetary and other benefits.

A single judge bench of Justice Manju Rani Chauhan was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by Vinod Bihari Lal and Prof. (Dr) Rajendra Bihari lal seeking anticipatory bail in the religious conversion case.

The bench ordered the investigating officer to make sure that neither of the two accused are arrested or subjected to coercive measures until February 15 if the accused appear before the investigation officer on February 13, 2023, and surrender their passports, if any.

“It is directed that the Senior Officials, as well as Investigating Officer, concerned shall ensure that the applicant be not arrested on 13th and 15th February 2023 when he comes to cooperate in the investigation,” the court stated.

When the pleas (which were not tagged together) were taken up for hearing, the court raised some specific questions about certain cognate issues, and an adjournment was sought on behalf of both parties for the day.

Moreover, Additional Advocate General also sought some more time to provide more support in the case in order to “create an indiscernible multipronged act of the accused.”

It is alleged that in addition to coercing mass illegal conversions, the accused individuals also collected and siphoned foreign funds for the ulterior motive of luring helpless, poor, and physically disabled people who were admittedly either patients in the hospital of the accused Mission or were somehow associated with missionaries operating throughout the State.

As a result, the court adjourned the case and scheduled a hearing for February 16, 2023, in response to the request made by counsel for both parties.