In a significant ruling concerning religious freedom and the implementation of anti-conversion laws, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has refused to quash an FIR against a man accused of allegedly pressurizing a family to convert to Islam.
The Single Judge Bench of Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt observed that at the preliminary stage of a criminal investigation, the court cannot ignore the serious allegations made by a minor child of the complainant, who prima facie implicated the accused in the forced conversion attempt.
The matter reached the High Court through a petition filed by the accused, Hemraj Tailor. The petitioner sought the quashment (cancellation) of the criminal proceedings initiated against him under Sections 3 and 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, and Section 506 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case originated from a complaint filed by a local family alleging that the petitioner was consistently pressurizing them to change their faith and embrace Islam. According to the prosecution, the accused used threats and psychological pressure to coerce the family into the conversion process, which is strictly prohibited under the state’s stringent anti-conversion laws.
The counsel for the petitioner argued that the FIR was politically motivated and lacked any concrete evidence. It was contended that the allegations were vague and that the provisions of the MP Freedom of Religion Act were being misused to settle personal scores. The petitioner maintained his innocence, claiming that no such incident of "forcing" a conversion ever took place and that the legal proceedings were an abuse of the process of law.
Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt, after perusing the case diary and the statements recorded by the police, noted that the investigation was still in its early stages. The Court laid heavy emphasis on the statement of the complainant's minor child.
The Court observed:
"Looking to the seriousness of the allegations made in the petition regarding pressurizing the family members of the complainant for conversion into another religion (Islam), and specifically looking to the statement of the minor child, this Court is of the view that prima facie a case is made out."
The Bench further clarified that under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the High Court’s power to quash an FIR is "extraordinary" and should be used sparingly. The court stated that it cannot conduct a "mini-trial" or weigh the evidence at this stage. As long as the FIR and the accompanying statements disclose the commission of a cognizable offense, the investigation must be allowed to reach its logical conclusion.
The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, aims to prohibit conversion from one religion to another by use of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or by any fraudulent means.
Under Section 3 of the Act, no person shall convert or attempt to convert another person through such means. Section 5 provides for stringent punishment, including imprisonment ranging from one to five years and a fine, which increases if the victim is a minor, a woman, or belongs to the SC/ST category.
This judgment reinforces the judicial stance that in cases involving religious conversion and the protection of minors, the "prima facie" evidence evidence that is sufficient to raise a presumption of fact is enough to let the trial proceed. It highlights the court's reluctance to interfere in investigations where the safety and religious autonomy of a family, particularly a minor, are at stake.
The dismissal of the petition means that the police will continue their probe, and the accused will have to face the trial court to prove his innocence.
By refusing to quash the FIR, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has sent a clear message that allegations of forced religious conversion will be taken seriously, especially when corroborated by vulnerable witnesses like children. For legal practitioners and the public alike, this case serves as a reminder of the high threshold required to cancel criminal proceedings once a formal complaint has been supported by initial witness statements.
Case Title: Hemraj Tailor v. State of Madhya Pradesh
Court: Madhya Pradesh High Court (Indore Bench)
Bench: Justice Sandeep N. Bhatt
Legal Provisions: Sections 3 & 5, MP Freedom of Religion Act, 2021; Section 506 IPC.