Bombay HC Dismisses Charges Against Amravati Residents Over Conversion Claims
The Bombay High Court ruled that promoting Christianity does not constitute an offense of outraging religious feelings.
Court quashed FIR against four individuals accused of pressuring a couple to convert to Christianity.
Judgment emphasized lack of evidence for deliberate insult to religious beliefs under Section 299.
Prosecution failed to obtain necessary government sanction for the case.
In a significant ruling, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court recently dismissed criminal charges against four individuals from Amravati, who were accused of coercing a couple to convert from Hinduism to Christianity. The court determined that merely promoting Christianity or advocating for conversion does not equate to outraging the religious feelings of any community.
Justice Mahendra Chandwani, presiding over the case, noted that the allegations against the defendants, even if taken at face value, did not meet the necessary criteria for offenses outlined in Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS). This section pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to insult religious beliefs. The court highlighted that the prosecution had not secured the mandatory government sanction required to initiate such proceedings, further undermining the case.
The case stemmed from a First Information Report (FIR) filed at the Chandur Bazar police station, which claimed that the accused pressured a couple to convert to Christianity between September and November 2025. Allegations included offers to cover educational expenses for the couple's children, promises of housing, and employment at a charitable organization. Additionally, it was claimed that the couple was coerced into declaring Christianity as their religion in official documents, with their children influenced by Sunday school teachings.
However, the court found that the prosecution's assertions did not substantiate claims of malicious intent to insult religious sentiments. The evidence presented primarily indicated promotion of Christianity rather than any deliberate act to outrage religious feelings. Furthermore, the court pointed out that the alleged incidents occurred before the enactment of Maharashtra's law against unlawful religious conversions, which took effect on August 28, 2026, indicating that no legal framework was in place to prohibit such actions at the time.
In light of these findings and referencing precedents set by the Supreme Court in the State of Haryana versus Bhajan Lal case, the Bombay High Court allowed the petitioners' application, thereby quashing the FIR and chargesheet against all four individuals. This ruling underscores the importance of evidence and legal procedure in cases involving religious conversion and the promotion of faith.
