MP : First case filed under ‘Freedom of Religion’ ordinance on charges of ‘Religious Conversion’

Bhopal : Police said the first case was registered against a 25-year-old youth in Barwani on Sunday night under religious conversion under newly formed MP Freedom of Religion Ordinance 2020. The new law provides for a punishment of up to 10 years for forcing women to convert.

Sohail Mansuri, a truck driver and DJ, resident of Palsud village, was arrested by the police on Monday under the new MP Freedom of Religion Ordinance 2020 and sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily injuring) and 506 (criminal intimidation) was levied on him.

Barwani police station in-charge Rajesh Yadav said, “The 22-year-old woman lodged a police complaint late Sunday night that Sohail had met the woman four years ago and posed as Sunny. He hid his religion and raped her on the pretext of marriage.”

The police officer said, “Two years ago, the woman came to know about Sohail’s religion but the accused promised her that he would not force her to convert and marry her. Recently, she came to know that Sohail was married and has a child and he was cheating on her and wanted to convert her. When she denied, he beat her up.”

Barwani Superintendent of Police Nimish Aggarwal said, “Police are interrogating the accused and further investigations are on.” He will be produced in court on Tuesday. ” The MP government has attempted religious freedom ordinance 2020 to regulate religious and prohibited conversion and conversion through misrepresentation, purchase, intimidation, force, undue influence, rape, marriage and any fraud.