Bail application rejected for accused in forced religious conversion case: Karnataka HC [Read Judgment]

Karnataka: The Karnataka High Court has rejected the bail application of an accused in a case involving alleged forced religious conversion and sexual assault of a married woman.

Justice S. Rachaiah, while dismissing the criminal appeal against the lower court’s denial of bail, emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the need to send a strong message to society.

The court noted that the complainant, a married woman with two children, alleged she was induced by the accused under the pretext of offering her a job. She claimed that she was subsequently sexually assaulted, blackmailed, confined in Belagavi, and pressured to convert to Islam.

Highlighting the gravity of the accusations, the court observed, “In the present case, the act of inducing innocent and poor women and forcibly converting them to Islam is a serious matter. Therefore, to prevent such developments, it is necessary to send a message to society that the courts are vigilant in regulating such activities and protecting innocent and underprivileged women and children.”

The court considered factors such as the nature and gravity of the offense, as well as its societal impact, in deliberating on the bail application. It noted that the complainant’s eagerness to rejoin her family after escaping confinement indicated the level of harassment she had allegedly endured.

Justice Rachaiah stated, “The victim’s eagerness to rejoin her family after leaving the company of the appellant indicates the extent of the harassment she had suffered. Therefore, considering her mental state and condition, it is not appropriate to grant bail to the petitioner.”

In conclusion, the High Court rejected the criminal appeal and upheld the lower court’s decision to deny bail to the accused.

[Read Judgment]