Illegal mass conversion: Allahabad High Court grants bail to four accused of waging war against India

The Allahabad High Court recently granted bail to four men accused waging war against India through illegal and mass religious conversion [Dheeraj Govind Rao Jagtap v State of UP]..By way of an order passed on July 19, a bench of Justices Attau Rahman Masoodi and Ajai Kumar Srivastava-I granted bail to Dheeraj Govind Rao Jagtap, Kausar Alam, Bhupriya Bando and Adam after noting that Supreme Court had previously granted bail to co-accused in the same case.According to the prosecution, all four accused were engaged in anti-national activities by conducting mass conversions of people within Uttar Pradesh from Hindu religion to Islam. They allegedly promoted Islam publicly and subsequently provided rehabilitation for the converted individuals..The UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) had arrested the accused in 2021. Besides illegal conversion, they were also accused of generating a substantial funds to carry out such activities, which is an offence under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. Consequently, they were charged for offences under the Indian Penal Code and UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Act.The Special NIA court denied the bail to the accused leading to the present plea. The counsel for appellant argued that two co-accused in the case were granted bail by the Supreme Court and two by the High Court.The case of the present accused is on similar footing as those granted bail, it was argued..After hearing the counsel for parties and taking facts into consideration, the Court observed that the initial first information report (FIR) in the illegal conversion case was filed against three accused individuals and some unknown persons, and none of the four appellants were mentioned in that.The Court further observed that after the investigation was completed, a police report in the form of a charge sheet was filed before the appropriate court. Subsequently, cognizance was taken and charges were framed against the appellant and other co-accused individuals, and the case went for trial.The Court also considered the top court's observations while granting bail to co-accused Abdullah. The Supreme Court had said that "having regard to the fact that the charges have been framed, we do not think that the appellant is required to be kept in detention pending trial."The case of the appellant is on similar footing as the charges against the present appellant, the Court noted.In light of above facts, the Court granted bail to appellant with certain conditions."The appellant shall mark his presence in the nearby police station in the first week of every month from the date of his release and shall keep the local police apprised about his whereabouts. We also provide that the appellant shall not visit the State of U.P. till the pendency of the proceedings except for attending the trial," the Court directed..[Read Order]