Shamli (Uttar Pradesh), June 8 (IANS) A religious conversion case in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli has taken a complex turn, after police arrested a woman and her father while the man at the centre of the controversy insisted that he embraced Islam voluntarily and not under any coercion or at anyone’s behest.

Police have arrested Chandni Qureshi and her father, Islam Qureshi, and registered a case against nine individuals in connection with the alleged conversion of a 30-year-old man. The case was lodged following a complaint filed by a noted businessman Devraj Malik, who alleged that his son, Ayush Malik, had been converted to Islam under the pretext of marriage.

According to officials, the medicine trader said that Chandni Qureshi worked as Ayush Malik’s physiotherapist as well as gym trainer before the two developed a personal relationship.

The complainant alleged that his son was subsequently taken to Delhi, where a nikah was conducted using forged documents.

Devraj Malik further alleged that the conversion had taken place several years ago and that his son had been influenced into changing his religion through a carefully planned process linked to the promise of marriage.

However, Ayush Malik has strongly rejected allegations that he was forced or manipulated into converting.

Speaking to IANS, he said he had willingly accepted Islam and was determined to continue following the faith despite mounting pressure.

“I willingly converted to Islam; no one forced me. FIRs are being filed against my family and I am pressurized to convert back to Hinduism. My family members are in jail right now; they have been arrested,” Ayush told IANS.

Recalling how he first met Chandni, he said the relationship began during medical treatment for a shoulder injury.

“I met Chandni while undergoing physiotherapy for a shoulder injury; she worked at the clinic where I received treatment. We exchanged phone numbers there, and our relationship started from there,” he said.

Ayush stated that his association with Islam began long before his marriage and that his religious beliefs evolved gradually over time. According to him, he embraced Islam nearly 12 years ago and has continued to identify as a Muslim ever since.

“During 2013-14, I started following Islam. Four years ago, I married Chandni in Shamli in accordance with Islamic rituals,” he said.

He also explained why he had kept his conversion hidden from his family for many years. According to Ayush, he did not disclose his decision because his sisters were unmarried at the time. He said he informed his family about both his conversion and marriage only after all three sisters had been married.

Ayush Malik has since adopted the name Mohammad Ali and expressed his intention to eventually have official documents issued under that name. However, he said the process has not been easy and that his documents still carry his previous identity.

“No one extends help in this process. In official documents, my name is still Ayush Malik. However, I don’t mind it now. There is nothing in name,” he said.

The 30-year-old also suggested that social factors may have influenced the complaint filed by his father. He said his family may have faced societal pressure because of his decision to change his religion.

“My father might have been under social pressure, and hence he filed an FIR. One family is under societal pressure because of my conversion, and my other family is now in jail. This is not right,” he said.

Meanwhile, police maintain that the allegations made in the complaint warranted a criminal investigation.

Shamli Superintendent of Police NP Singh said a case has been registered against nine individuals, including a maulvi, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.

According to investigators, the case is being examined as an alleged premeditated act in which the victim was drawn into a romantic relationship, pressured to change his religion and later subjected to financial exploitation and intimidation.

Police officials state that the investigation is focused on determining whether the conversion and marriage were conducted through deception, forged documentation or unlawful inducement.

Responding to accusations that the conversion was linked to financial gain, Ayush categorically denied that Chandni or her family stood to benefit monetarily from his decision.

“There was nothing sort of financial gain that Chandni or her family would get. Whatever is in my destiny will find me; Allah will give that to me,” he said.

–IANS

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