PRAYAGRAJ — The Allahabad High Court has refused bail to two Class 12 students in a sensitive religious conversion case from Moradabad, observing that the allegations warrant a detailed investigation.
The case stems from a complaint by a girl student from a majority community, who accused two Muslim classmates of pressuring her to change her religion.
A bench of Justices J.J. Munir and Tarun Saxena rejected the plea filed by the accused, who had sought quashing of the case along with bail.
During the hearing, the court referred to material in the police case diary, including a video which officials said was linked to allegations that the girl was forced to wear a burqa.
“At this stage, there are sufficient grounds to continue the investigation. The allegations are serious and cannot be ignored without proper examination,” the court observed, declining to grant relief.
According to the complaint, the girl alleged that her classmates pressured her to accept Islam and asked her to wear a burqa, eat non-vegetarian food, and read the Quran. She also claimed that the situation affected her studies.
The accused students have denied the allegations. A person close to their families said the truth would emerge after a fair investigation.
The court also expressed concern over such incidents involving school students, noting that student life is meant for education and personal growth, and that such allegations could have long-term consequences.
Legal observers said the court’s approach indicates caution. “It has not pronounced guilt but wants a thorough examination of facts before granting any relief,” one observer noted.
The development comes amid another recent case from Bahraich, where the High Court granted relief to a Muslim youth, Mohammad Faizan, who had been booked under anti-conversion laws.
In that case, a woman had alleged that her daughter was lured and forced into conversion. However, during proceedings, the woman stated that she had gone with Faizan of her own will and had been living with him for three years.
“I went willingly and want to stay with him. There was no pressure on me,” she told the court.
The High Court, in Faizan’s case, raised concerns over the manner of investigation, observing that the evidence did not support the allegations and suggesting possible external influence.
The court also noted that, in some instances, complaints are filed by third parties rather than the individuals directly involved.
Legal experts say the two cases highlight the need to assess each matter on its own merits. “There have been instances where allegations did not stand scrutiny in court,” a senior lawyer said.
Together, the cases have renewed attention on how conversion-related complaints are handled. While authorities stress strict action in genuine cases, concerns have also been raised about the potential impact of false or exaggerated allegations, particularly on young students.
“There must be justice for all, but no one should suffer due to unverified claims,” a community member said.
In the Moradabad case, the court has allowed the investigation to continue, with no date announced yet for the next hearing.
In the Bahraich matter, the court has sought further clarification from officials and listed the case for May 19, while granting protection to Faizan.
The High Court’s contrasting orders reflect a cautious approach—denying relief where prima facie material exists, while questioning investigations where evidence appears weak. As both cases proceed, the focus remains on ensuring that outcomes are based on facts, due process, and fairness.
