Judge rules prosecution did not prove coercion in marriage under scrutiny
A sessions court in Bhopal has acquitted 26-year-old Saiyyad Khan of allegations framed under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, after the prosecution failed to establish that he used force, fraud or undue influence to secure an interfaith marriage, according to reporting by Muslim Mirror and court records.
The case arose from the couples decision to marry under the Special Marriage Act on 7 February 2025, when the man and his partner travelled from Narmadapuram district to Bhopal for the legal formalities. Police later accused Khan of concealing his religion, using a false identity and pressuring the woman to change her religion and name. Khan had been arrested following an alleged assault on him by a group of lawyers inside the district court complex.
- Allegation: Forced religious conversion, concealment of identity and coercion.
- Defence: The complainant retracted key allegations in a recorded statement and denied any coercion.
- Court outcome: Acquittal on grounds that prosecution did not prove charges beyond reasonable doubt.
The woman, identified in court material as the complainant, gave a statement under Section 164 of the CrPC and during cross-examination that she had not been threatened, deceived or physically compelled to convert. She said she married by choice and was aware of Khans religious background. The prosecution primarily relied on the initial complaint and failed to produce independent witnesses or documentary corroboration to substantiate claims of force or fraud, the court found.
"Criminal liability under the anti-conversion law cannot rest on allegations alone and requires clear, reliable proof," the court observed, according to the report.
The case has drawn political comment. Congress MP Dr Syed Naseer Hussain criticised the events surrounding the arrest and case filing, calling Khan a victim and alleging that the incident reflected a broader climate of intimidation affecting interfaith couples. In a post on the social platform X, Dr Hussain said the couple approached the court to legalise their union and that Khan was subsequently assaulted, arrested and left without a livelihood or home. He accused the state ruling party of promoting a divisive narrative under the banner of so-called "love jihad" and sought accountability for the fear such actions create.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Marriage registry | Couple registered under Special Marriage Act, 7 Feb 2025 |
| Allegations lodged | Police alleged concealment of identity and coercion |
| Arrest | Man arrested after alleged assault inside district court complex |
| Court decision | Sessions court acquitted defendant; prosecution case found unproved |
The judgement underscores evidentiary standards required under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance, 2020 (notified January 2021), which criminalises conversion obtained through force, fraud or inducement and prescribes procedural safeguards. Legal experts and civil-society observers have previously noted that prosecutions under state anti-conversion laws often turn on witness testimony, documentary proof and the recorded statements of alleged victims.
For residents of Bhopal and surrounding districts, the case highlights several practical concerns: the experience of interfaith couples seeking to formalise marriages through the Special Marriage Act; the role of police in responding to family or community complaints; and how courts assess retractions or recanted allegations given reported pressure from families or third parties.
Local lawyers said that cases of this nature frequently involve contested narratives and social pressures. The courts emphasis on independent corroboration reflects a legal threshold that, if unmet, can lead to acquittal even where serious accusations have been made.
The acquittal will be closely watched by civil-society groups and rights advocates in Madhya Pradesh who monitor cases involving personal laws, marriage rights and freedom of religion. It may also influence how police register complaints and pursue investigations in future interfaith marriage disputes that carry potential criminal consequences under the state law.
No comment was immediately available from the local police at the time of reporting. Court documents and the media report form the basis of this account.
