In what has become a harrowing reality for an Assistant Professor at Allahabad University, a shocking truth emerged after 13 years of marriage and the birth of their children. The Hindu man, identified here as Rishikesh Tripathi (name changed to protect identity), discovered that his wife, Pratibha Tiwari, had undergone a conversion and nikah ceremony nearly 14 years ago, adopting the name Mehnaz Hasan and marrying a Muslim man named Mahroof Hasan.
The revelation unfolded unexpectedly when Rishikesh stumbled upon a nikahnama and an affidavit tucked away in a side table on May 13. The documents disclosed that Pratibha had applied to the Maharashtra court on April 23, 2007, seeking a change of name and religion.
As per the documents, on May 26, 2007, in the presence of Quazi Fareed Ahmed Khan at Wazeer Bhavan in Bhendi Bazar, Mumbai, she converted to Islam and assumed the name Mehnaz Hasan. On June 22, 2007, her marriage to Mahroof Hasan was solemnized by Quazi Mufti M Mukarram, with witnesses Sayeed Kale, Mazhar Ali Khan, and Naved Khan present.
Importantly, Pratibha’s parents, Radheshyam and Urmila Tiwari, were aware of these events.
Rishikesh recounted to the police in his FIR (number 230/2024) filed at the Civil Lines police station in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, that he had married Pratibha on June 27, 2011, according to Hindu customs. Pratibha, originally from Guwahati, Assam, had been abusive throughout their marriage, alleging dowry harassment and other offences, which Rishikesh endured due to his commitment to marital values and social pressure.
(Organiser has copy of the FIR)
The distressing ordeal has deeply affected Rishikesh, prompting him to bring the matter to light despite the emotional turmoil. While the victim’s identity is being protected by Organiser, the accused woman and her family are identified openly. The case, highlighting significant legal and personal complexities, underscores the need for justice and resolution amidst profound personal upheaval.
After discovering her past marriage, Pratibha’s family concealed the truth and arranged her marriage to Rishikesh within 15 days. The wedding took place in Varanasi, not in Assam. From the beginning, Pratibha falsely accused Rishikesh of torturing her for dowry and other offences.
While Rishikesh was working at Rajiv Gandhi University in Itanagar, he found over 50 packets of gutka in their kitchen. His sister Vineeta, who lived with them at the time, witnessed Pratibha cutting her wrist in Rishikesh’s absence after he forbade her from consuming gutka. Vineeta took Pratibha to the hospital. In 2014, when Rishikesh’s mother questioned Pratibha about her gutka habit, Pratibha assaulted her and attacked Rishikesh, breaking his nose.
Between June and December 2020, Pratibha was in contact with a man named Mukesh Chourasiya. When Rishikesh confronted her, she abused him and called the police to falsely frame him. She also expelled his mother from their home, leading her to stop living with them since January 2021.
Pratibha left home and went missing for a month, during which she posted a video on social media accusing Rishikesh of driving her to suicide. She constantly threatened Rishikesh, saying, “If you ever speak against me, I will make sure you cannot get out of your house.”
Pratibha called Rishikesh’s friends, students, and family members, falsely accusing him of actions he never committed. She told his students that Rishikesh had relationships with multiple women.
On January 18, 2022, she called his students in front of their children and had vulgar conversations. When Rishikesh questioned her, she attacked him with an iron nail, causing his nose to bleed, and locked the door. She only unlocked it after the children started crying, on the condition that he would not tell anyone who attacked him. She even followed him to the hospital to ensure he said nothing to anyone.
On June 20, 2022, Rishikesh approached the police, citing safety concerns for himself and his children, but he withdrew the complaint after Pratibha threatened to kill their children and herself. She continued to give him death threats over minor arguments and repeatedly broke his laptop and other gadgets.
Since the discovery of her conversion and previous marriage, Pratibha has been uploading pictures of Rishikesh with his female students, making false claims. This has prevented him from going to his workplace or even stepping out of his office.
On May 31, 2024, Pratibha announced on Facebook that she and Rishikesh were getting divorced, which subjected Rishikesh to immense social pressure. She has reconnected with a man named Rishi Agarwal and has threatened Rishikesh, claiming she could have him killed. Additionally, she warns that if he speaks against her, she will frame him in false cases.
Pratibha has also been influencing their children against Rishikesh. Under her manipulation, the children abuse him and speak to him disrespectfully. On May 23, she pushed Rishikesh out of his own house, threatening to have him booked on charges of rape and assault if he contacted the police.
Currently, Rishikesh is forced to live with his mother in Ayappa Nagar, as he has no other options left.
Based on Rishikesh’s complaint, the police have booked Pratibha and her parents under sections 420 (cheating), 494 (marrying again during the lifetime of the husband or wife), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the IPC.
Organiser contacted Rishikesh on June 27 for a conversation, but he was too emotional and depressed to discuss the case. The police are actively investigating the matter, and the Organiser will remain in touch with the victim for further updates on this story. It cannot be confirmed if the woman was still in touch with her first husband.
In a similar case reported by Organiser from Uttar Pradesh, Jagveer Kori, a Dalit man, filed a complaint against his wife, Pooja, who was revealed to be Haseena Bano twelve years after their marriage. Upon discovering the truth, she began pressuring Jagveer to convert, threatening to harm him and take away his property if he refused. In October 2022, Jagveer disclosed, “My marriage has been built on deception. My wife, who claimed to be an orphan, actually belongs to a large Muslim family. She is not Pooja but Haseena Bano. They forcibly subjected my son to circumcision.” An FIR (number 403/2022) was lodged at the Ayodhya Kotwali in September 2022 regarding this case.
In a similar case from Meerut, Dushyant Choudhary tragically took his own life after facing pressure from his wife, Farah, and her family to convert to Islam. The suicide occurred in January 2022. Following a complaint from Dushyant’s cousin, Johny, the Nauchandi police filed an FIR on January 29, 2023 (number 15/2023). Despite allegations of forced conversion, the police have charged Dushyant’s wife and in-laws only for abetment to suicide. According to Dushyant’s friend, Sumit, Dushyant had started adopting Islamic practices, such as refraining from visiting temples or accepting puja prasad. Sumit even witnessed Dushyant leaving a mosque wearing a skull cap and white kurta-pajama. When Sumit attempted to discuss the matter with him, Dushyant insisted that Islam was the only suitable religion to follow.
