Lucknow: Allahabad High Court slammed the Uttar Pradesh administration, stating that state authorities are falling and scrambling over each other to score brownie points to take action in alleged illegal conversion cases, The Indian Express reported.
The court quashed an FIR lodged against a person under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The petitioner in the case has been in jail for a month, and he was arrested after respondent no 4 in the case alleged that his wife, who is respondent no.5 in the case, left their home, taking jewellery and cash. According to the respondent no 4, this happened at the instigation of the petitioner, who was involved in religious conversions, according to respondent no. 4.
The FIR lodged against the petitioner claimed that he ran a gang engaged in illegal conversions and related actions.
The court noted that the petitioner is not wanted in any other criminal cases and directed his immediate release.
TIE quoted the court, “This petition is a glaring example of state authorities falling and scrambling over each other in order to score brownie points on the basis of the FIR which has been lodged by respondent no. 4.”
Further, the court imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 on the state and ordered it to pay Rs 50,000 to the petitioner and the remaining to the Legal Aid Services of the court. The court also said that the state is free to proceed against any erring officials.
Regarding the FIR lodged against the petitioner, the police first charged him with the offences of kidnapping or abducting for murder or ransom under BNS Section 140.
However, later, police added charges under BNS sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 317(2) (stolen property), and Section 3(1)(5) of the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.