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After arrests and separation, Ghaziabad interfaith couple faces fresh blow — police order husband to leave district for 6 months

Police said the action was taken against the man under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act, 1970

4 min readGhaziabadUpdated: Sep 9, 2025 12:34 PM IST

Policemen in front of Akbar’s house on Sunday

Since May, Sonika Chauhan (25) and Akbar Khan (29) have been living a nightmare. After their interfaith marriage sparked tension, allegedly fuelled by Hindutva groups, in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram, the couple was torn apart.

Akbar was arrested — not once, but twice — for allegedly kidnapping his wife. He was later granted bail and walked out of prison.

Just as the couple hoped for peace, police have dealt them a fresh blow — it has ordered Akbar’s externment from the district for six months.

Police said the action was taken against the man under the Uttar Pradesh Control of Goondas Act, 1970. The externment notice, dated September 4, was issued by Additional Commissioner of Police Alok Priyadarshi.

On Sunday, policemen, along with BJP leader Meena Bhandari, reached Akbar’s home in Indirapuram, accompanied by a drummer. In a video that has surfaced on social media, the policemen are seen announcing that several FIRs have been lodged against Akbar.

“Akbar stands exiled from the boundaries of Ghaziabad district… and if he transcends the boundaries within the stipulated time, action will be taken against him,” an officer announced.

Officers pasted a copy of the order on the door of Akbar’s house, as he was not home.

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According to the notice, Akbar was named in an FIR related to rioting in a 2021 case. “People are so terrified of him in the area that no one dares to file a complaint against him… the chargesheet in both cases filed on July 7, 2025, and January 29 of 2021,” the order stated.

When contacted, Akbar’s lawyer, Chand Alam, said his client had left Ghaziabad on Sunday and moved to another state. “We did not know about this old FIR, as it was not relevant to the couple’s case. We have already moved the Allahabad High Court and will soon file petitions to prevent his arrest in the case…,” he added.

Sonika and Akbar have maintained they had been married for three years, but were reduced to their only identity — their faith.

Their troubles started after Sonika’s father, Laxman Singh Chauhan, filed a police complaint on May 25 at Indirapuram police station, alleging that Sonika had been kidnapped by Akbar and her in-laws.

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The Ghaziabad Police had then raided Akbar’s home in Indirapuram and “handed over” Sonika to her parents. Police also arrested Akbar, his two sisters, his sister-in-law, and a neighbour. A group of around 60 men had also attacked Akbar’s shop and vandalised it.

A purported video had surfaced before Akbar’s arrest in May, in which Sonika could be heard saying that she wanted to stay with him and that they had secretly gotten married at a Delhi SDM office under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, in August 2022.

Akbar was released on bail on June 8.

Then, on July 30, Chauhan filed another kidnapping complaint against Akbar — and he was arrested on August 2.

A purported video had surfaced in which Sonika claimed that she had left her home on July 30 to be with Akbar. “I, Sonika, on July 30, around 2 pm, left my house as per my wish… For the last two months, my parents and some other people, including Meena Bhandari, Harish Karakoti, Kapil Tyagi, my maternal uncle Vikram Rawat and my paternal uncle Jagdish Singh Chauhan, had been torturing me physically and mentally… they wanted me to give a statement against Akbar in court and frame him under the POCSO (Act) and put him behind bars. But I protested… I will only tell the truth,” she was heard saying in the video.

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Speaking to The Indian Express in June, Sonika had said, “People keep telling me that I am Hindu and he is Muslim, that I have brought disrespect to my family… I just want to be with him. When will all this end?”

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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