Police arrest Lucknow varsity doctor’s parents in alleged conversion case
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Lucknow Police on Monday arrested the parents of a resident doctor at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Rameezuddin, in connection with an alleged case of forced religious conversion linked to marriage.
According to the police, the case involves accusations that a resident doctor at Agra Medical College was converted for marriage, along with allegations that another KGMU resident doctor was pressured to change her religion to marry the accused doctor. The parents, identified as Salimuddin, 70, and Khadija, 60, were detained following questioning at their rented residence in Lucknow’s Old City area.
Police officials said the reward for information leading to the arrest of Rameezuddin, who remains absconding, has been increased from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishwajeet Srivastava told The Indian Express that the arrests were made after both alleged victims recorded their statements before a magistrate, in which they reportedly described the parents’ involvement in pressuring them to convert and in an alleged forced miscarriage. He added that Rameezuddin faces charges related to sexual exploitation, religious conversion, and causing a miscarriage, Indian Express reported.
During interrogation, police said the parents revealed the identity of a Muslim cleric who allegedly conducted the nikah, along with a witness. Authorities said their roles are being verified to determine whether they should also be named as accused.
Meanwhile, police teams have been sent to multiple locations to locate the doctor after a non-bailable warrant was issued. Officials said they also plan to approach the court to seek permission to attach his property. Raids have already been conducted at his residence in Uttarakhand and his ancestral home in Pilibhit, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
Earlier, the medical university had suspended the accused doctor after a complaint was filed by his colleague at KGMU on December 23. Police registered a case under BNS sections 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc), 89 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent) and 351 (criminal intimidation) besides religious conversion charges.
Police further said the KGMU complainant claimed she later came into contact with another woman who identified herself as Rameezuddin’s wife, and who reportedly told her that she had converted prior to the marriage, which was solemnised in February last year.