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Allahabad HC grants bail to UP man arrested for conversion

HC while hearing his brother's case had said that the “unsaid words” and “subtle message” in a WhatsApp message can amount to promoting enmity between religious communities, even if the message does not explicitly mention religion.

3 min readNew DelhiNov 19, 2025 07:00 AM IST

UP man arrested for conversion, man arrested for conversion, allahabad high court, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), rape, cheating and unlawful religious conversion, Lucknow news, Uttar pradesh news, Indian express, Current affairs

Afaq’s lawyer Syed Shahnawaz Shah had argued that the message merely conveyed his client’s anguish. The HC disagreed, observing that the “unsaid words” carried an implicit communal charge.

The Allahabad High Court last Thursday granted bail to Arif Ahmad, a resident of Bijnor who was arrested on charges including rape, cheating and unlawful religious conversion under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law.

The matter had drawn wider attention last month after the high court, in a separate hearing, observed that WhatsApp messages sent by Arif’s brother, Afaq Ahmad, about the arrest could foment communal tension through their “subtle” and “unsaid words”.

At the bail hearing, Arif’s lawyer, advocate Gopal Misra, contended that his client had been falsely and fraudulently implicated as part of a conspiracy arising from enmity.

Misra told the court there were contradictions between the initial FIR and later statements by the complainant, and that she had not directly accused Arif of any crime. He referred to a love letter, allegedly written by the victim to Arif, which he claimed demonstrated she was a “willing party” in the relationship. He also argued that the victim’s family was pressuring her to give statements against Arif and that there was no direct evidence of coercion.

The single-judge bench of Justice Gautam Chowdhary granted bail after noting “the nature of the evidence and the absence of any substantial contradictory material,” and that the material on record was “not likely to be tampered with.” The judge emphasised that the decision to grant bail did not amount to any comment on the merits of the case.

Arif was ordered released on furnishing a personal bond with two sureties. His bail terms bar him from tampering with evidence, threatening witnesses and require him to cooperate with the ongoing trial.

Arif was arrested on July 20 after an FIR was lodged by local RSS worker Sandeep Kaushik. The complaint initially alleged Arif of being involved in “love jihad” by allegedly luring a Hindu woman into a relationship with the intention of unlawfully converting her religion. The FIR was subsequently expanded to include offences under the BNS and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.

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Following the arrest, Afaq Ahmad, Ari’s brother posted WhatsApp messages asserting that his brother had been framed and expressing fear of lynching, while also expressing faith in the judiciary.

In the messages, Afaq allegedly said that his brother had been “framed in a false case by putting political pressure on the police”, and lamented that “a call has been made for a total boycott of my family’s livelihood”.

Last month, a division bench of the high court, while refusing to quash an FIR against Afaq for spreading religious hatred, had noted that his message “definitely conveys an underlying and subtle message that his brother has been targeted in a false case because of belonging to a particular religious community.”

Afaq’s lawyer Syed Shahnawaz Shah had argued that the message merely conveyed his client’s anguish. The HC disagreed, observing that the “unsaid words” carried an implicit communal charge.

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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