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Beaten in Bhopal court over interfaith marriage, man arrested; no FIR against his assailants

Police say couple placed under protection; assailants accused man of ‘love jihad’. No arrests made in the case so far

According to police officials, right-wing groups descended on the court premises after being tipped off by “sources” about the couple deciding to register their marriage. (Video screengrab)

An interfaith couple who visited a court in Bhopal to register their marriage was targeted by members of right-wing outfits, who assaulted the man and accused him of “love jihad”, after which he was arrested on charges of forcing the woman to change her religion.

No FIR has been registered against his attackers.

The assault on the man, which took place in a busy courtroom, was captured on video, which has since spread online.

According to police officers, right-wing groups went to the court premises after being tipped off by “sources” about the couple deciding to register their marriage.

The man, a resident of Narsinghpur, had travelled to Bhopal with the woman, but could not complete the court formalities, police officers said.

Chandra Shekhar Tiwari, president of the Sanskriti Bachao Manch, which was among the groups who sent members to the court, alleged that the man had “multiple photographs and contact numbers of Hindu women on his phone and had coerced his partner into marriage”.

The group demanded that the police “charge the man under sections of rape”.

Bhopal ACP Akshay Chaudhary confirmed the incident and said the couple had come to Bhopal to marry under the Special Marriage Act.

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“The couple was first taken under our custody and questioned. Their statements were taken down. The woman told us that she was being forced to marry him and change her religion,” he said.

According to sources, on Friday evening, the woman’s mother told police that the man had been pestering her daughter for the last three years.

The man has been booked under section 3/5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021. Police said they have contacted his local police station to investigate any previous criminal records.

A senior police officer said, “No FIR has been registered against the attackers in the video. There is no complaint against them. The man has not given a statement against the attackers so far.”

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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