Love knows no caste, no religion, no boundaries — it is often said that true love rises above man-made barriers. But in Gadag city, what began as a romantic union of two young hearts has now snowballed into an unusual controversy involving allegations of forced religious conversion, community pressure, and deep family conflict.
Vishal Kumar, a resident of the Gadag-Betageri settlement area, has filed a serious complaint accusing his wife, Tahseen Hosamani’s family, of pressuring him to convert to Islam after marriage. According to Vishal’s allegations, the three-year-long love affair with Tahseen, a resident of Kurattipet in the city, was kept secret from both families. When the couple felt their relationship was strong enough to take the next step, they married through a civil registration on November 26, 2024, without informing their families.
However, when Tahseen’s family learned of the registered marriage, matters took a complicated turn. Vishal alleges that Tahseen’s family, especially her mother, Begum Banu and brother-in-law, Ibrahim Khan Dawal Saab, insisted that the marriage would only be accepted if he underwent a Muslim Nikah according to Islamic customs.
Wanting to keep his relationship intact, Vishal agreed. On April 25, 2025, a Nikha ceremony was performed at the Umar Bin Khattab Mosque near Mulgund Naka in Gadag. But what shocked Vishal later was that, without his clear consent or understanding, his name was changed to Viraj Saab in the Nikha Nama (marriage certificate). The altered name was recorded in Urdu in the marriage register.
Vishal says the pressure did not end there. Even before the Nikha, Tahseen’s family had allegedly pressured him to offer daily Namaz five times and attend the local Jamaat prayers, demanding that he follow the religious practices of their faith strictly. Matters came to light within Vishal’s family when a video clip of the mosque wedding ceremony surfaced on social media and went viral. His family, who had no idea about the religious ceremony, were stunned by the developments.
Vishal’s parents, wanting to restore what they believed was lost balance, planned a Hindu marriage ceremony. They approached Tahseen’s family and proposed that the couple should also marry according to Hindu customs, as a mark of respect for both traditions. Initially, Tahseen’s family reportedly agreed, and the wedding was fixed for June 5. But closer to the date, Vishal claims, Tahseen’s family backed out and refused to allow the Hindu ceremony to proceed. Instead, they demanded that Vishal fully accept Islam and break all ties with Hindu customs.
Finding himself cornered and allegedly mentally harassed, Vishal claims that his wife, too, was estranged from him when he refused to convert entirely. Feeling betrayed, he has now filed a formal complaint with the Gadag Superintendent of Police, demanding strict legal action against Tahseen, her mother, and her brother-in-law for alleged forced conversion and psychological harassment.
Hindu organisations have stepped in, extending their support to Vishal, condemning what they describe as a misuse of love and trust to forcibly convert someone against their free will. They have urged the police to take the allegations seriously and ensure that the matter is probed thoroughly, saying that if proven true, it sets a dangerous precedent of forced conversions under the guise of love.
Vishal’s complaint has sparked heated discussions in the city about interfaith marriages, freedom of religion, and individual rights in relationships that cross cultural lines. Community leaders are calling for calm while urging the authorities to ensure that justice is served without communal tensions escalating.
As of now, the police have acknowledged receipt of Vishal’s complaint and have assured that a fair and impartial investigation will be conducted. Legal experts say that if evidence of forced conversion and name alteration without informed consent is established, the accused may face serious legal consequences under sections of the law dealing with fraud, forgery, and violation of individual religious freedom.
Vishal has appealed to the police and local leaders for protection, fearing backlash. He insists that his love for Tahseen was genuine, but says he never agreed to abandon his faith.
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