A nine-year-old interfaith marriage in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao district has led to a criminal investigation after a Hindu man was abducted, assaulted and pressured to convert to Islam by members of his wife’s family.
According to the complaint filed by Roshni, a Muslim woman who married a Hindu man, Raja Tiwari, under Hindu customs around nine years ago, the couple had been living together peacefully despite opposition from her family. She alleges that ever since the marriage, her relatives had severed ties with her and never accepted the relationship.
The dispute took a dramatic turn on June 12 when, according to the complaint, several of Roshni’s relatives allegedly intercepted Raja Tiwari and forcibly took him away.
The FIR names Nabi Alam, Ronak, Nabi Sher and Shabbar among the accused.
“Dragged him to a mosque and pressured to convert”
According to the complaint submitted to police, Raja Tiwari was taken against his will to a mosque where attempts were made to force him to embrace Islam.
Roshni alleged that the accused pressured her husband to abandon his faith and convert. She further claimed that efforts were made to compel him to consume beef and undergo circumcision as part of the alleged conversion attempt.
When Raja resisted, the accused allegedly assaulted him with sticks and other objects.
The complaint states that he sustained injuries during the attack.
What the FIR says
According to the police complaint submitted by Roshni at Kotwali Police Station, Unnao, the incident occurred on June 12.
The complaint alleges that Raja Tiwari was forcibly taken away by her relatives, beaten and subjected to pressure to change his religion.
Based on her complaint, police registered FIR No. 355/2026 on June 13 at the Kotwali Police Station, Unnao.
The accused have been booked under Sections 115(2), 352 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police have confirmed that an investigation has been initiated and that evidence is being collected regarding the allegations made in the complaint.
According to the complaint filed by Roshni, she had married Raja Tiwari according to Hindu customs approximately nine years ago and had been residing with him since then. She alleged that her maternal relatives, including Nabi Alam, Ronak, Nabi Sher and others, never accepted the marriage.
The complaint further states that on June 12 the accused allegedly intercepted Raja Tiwari, assaulted him with sticks and rods, and forcibly took him away. Roshni alleged that her husband was taken to a mosque where pressure was exerted upon him to convert his religion. She further claimed that attempts were made to force him to consume beef and undergo circumcision. When he resisted, he was allegedly beaten, resulting in injuries.
Following the incident, the matter was reported to the police, after which a case was registered and an investigation commenced.
Police investigation underway
Police officials have stated that an FIR has been registered on the basis of Roshni’s complaint and that the allegations are being examined.
According to reports, three named accused have been detained or arrested while the role of other individuals is also being investigated. Officials have indicated that further legal action will depend upon the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation.
A similar case surfaced recently in Shamli
The Unnao case comes days after another high-profile conversion-related controversy emerged in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district involving businessman Ayush Malik.
According to reports, Ayush Malik, son of pharmaceutical businessman Devraj Malik, came into contact with Chandni Qureshi several years ago while receiving physiotherapy treatment. Investigators later alleged that the relationship developed further and eventually culminated in his conversion to Islam and a nikah ceremony in Delhi. Police arrested Chandni Qureshi and her father Islam Qureshi after an FIR was registered by Ayush’s father.
The complaint alleged that Ayush had adopted a new Islamic identity and had become increasingly involved in Islamic religious practices. Police also examined allegations regarding the role of family members, clerics and a purported nikahnama.
According to the investigation details made public, police named multiple accused in the Shamli case and invoked provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act along with various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities stated that the matter remains under investigation and that efforts are continuing to trace other accused named in the FIR.
