A resident of Shamli district, Ayush Malik, who had earlier converted to Islam while in a relationship with a woman, has returned to Hinduism, saying that he took the decision after witnessing the emotional distress caused to his parents.
A video circulating on social media appears to show Malik, who is in his 20s, performing Hindu rituals at his home along with his family members. The development comes while a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his conversion is still underway, Siasat Daily reported.
In the video, Malik says that he had embraced Islam because of his relationship with the woman but decided to return to Hinduism after seeing the suffering his decision had caused his family. He is also seen apologising to his parents and expressing his desire to remain with them.
Yashveer Maharaj of Yog Sadhana Ashram, who had earlier highlighted the issue publicly, confirmed Malik’s reconversion. He claimed that Malik had resumed Hindu religious practices at home and removed items associated with Islam from his residence. He described the development as a positive outcome after a prolonged period of distress for the family.
The reconversion took place weeks after Uttar Pradesh Police arrested physiotherapist Chandni Qureshi and her father, Islam Qureshi, following a complaint filed by Devaraj Malik under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
According to the complaint, Ayush, a Bachelor of Pharmacy graduate involved in managing his family’s medical shop, met Chandni in 2018 while undergoing treatment for a leg injury at a hospital in Shamli.
Police have alleged that the two later entered into a relationship and that Chandni and her family members influenced him to convert to Islam. The FIR claims that Ayush was taken to Delhi in 2023, where he converted, adopted the name Mohammad Ali, and underwent a nikah ceremony. However, investigators have stated that they have not found any marriage certificate during the probe.
Police have also alleged that after the conversion, Ayush began following Islamic practices, including offering regular prayers, growing a beard, and changing his appearance.
Devaraj Malik has claimed that the conversion was part of a broader plan aimed at taking control of family property valued at several crores of rupees. These allegations are part of the ongoing investigation.
Four people, including Chandni Qureshi and her father, were arrested on June 7. The FIR names nine individuals and includes charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to extortion, cheating, forgery, and criminal intimidation, along with provisions of the anti-conversion law.
The case remains under investigation.