Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has dismissed discharge pleas filed by two maulvis accused of allegedly converting around 100 Hindus from 37 tribal families to Islam through inducements in Amod taluka of Narmada district since 2006.

Justice Gita Gopi rejected the applications moved by Sarfaraz alias Javid Khuji alias Javid Mufti Salim Hasan Yusuf Ibrahim Khilji and Ramiz Raja alias Owaish Abdul Gani Abdul Rahim Khilji. They were booked in 2021 along with others under provisions of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act and Sections 120(B), 153(b)(1)(c), and 506(2) of the IPC, and were named in the third chargesheet filed by police.

Counsel for the accused argued that, as maulvis, preaching religion is their duty and a fundamental right, and therefore no offence was made out against them. However, the state opposed the pleas, stating that police had uncovered a larger conspiracy involving illegal religious conversions, and alleged that Sarfaraz had previously been involved in similar activities targeting vulnerable villagers.

According to the prosecution, the accused held meetings, delivered religious sermons, and encouraged conversions. It was further alleged that they, along with others, visited villages and offered clothes, medicines, and cash to lure people into converting. Promises of items such as air coolers, water coolers, handcarts, and prayer mats were also allegedly made to those who converted.

The High Court upheld the trial court’s earlier decision, observing that witness statements and material on record indicated organised meetings aimed at religious conversion, and found no grounds to discharge the accused. DeshGujarat