Punjab and Haryana High Court asks CBI to look into the issue of alleged ‘illegal religious conversion’

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has reiterated that the CBI must delve deep into the matter to get to the bottom of the reasons behind suspected illegal religious conversions under the guise of interfaith marriages.

Judge Sandeep Moudgil directed so when he came across a case involving an interfaith marriage that was performed without witnesses in an autorickshaw.

The court reiterated its earlier decision and stated: “This is a matter in which the Central Bureau of Investigation must be called upon to investigate the causes and fears expressed here, namely the fears and suspicions of an illegal conversion of religion, particularly in view of the manner in which the present marriage was planned, which gave rise to serious doubts as to the very ceremony itself.“

The CBI had filed an application under Section 482 Cr.PC seeking clarification and modification of an earlier order of the court directing the Central Agency to investigate the matter.

The application said that in order to conduct a thorough investigation, a specific direction from the court to the CBI to conduct a preliminary investigation into the facts was necessary.

The Court granted this request and ordered the Agency to report it at the next hearing after the preliminary investigation has been completed.

The judge also directed the DGP of UT Chandigarh to provide necessary staff as and when required by the CBI.

Mr. Mohd. Yousaf, Counsel for Mr. Harjinder Singh, Counsel for the Applicants.

Mr. JS Rattu, DAG, Punjab.

Mr. Parteek Gupta, Counsel for the Respondent-CBI.

Title: XXXX v. State of Punjab and others