Central Govt staff accused of using official post for religious conversions denied bail

The Allahabad High Court recently upheld the order of denial of bail to a Central Government servant, Irfan Shaikh accused of waging war against India by converting people to Islam by misusing his official position.

Essentially, the Bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Brij Raj Singh affirmed the October 2021 order of the Special Judge, N.I.A./A.T.S./Additional District & Sessions Judge, Lucknow denying bail to Shaikh by observing thus:

"Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, particularly the fact that the Investigating Officer, after due investigation, has found cogent and clinching evidence against the appellant that with the connivance of co-accused Umar Gautam and others, appellant is involved in anti-national activities of conversation by misusing his official position while working in Sign Language Training and Research Centre, New Delhi as Interpreter, we do no find any good ground to grant bail to the appellant".

The case against Shaikh

UP police A.T.S. got a piece of information that some anti-national/anti-social elements and religious organizations, on the dictate of ISI and foreign organizations, have indulged in getting the people converted to Islam by getting funds from foreign countries for this purpose.

On the aforesaid information and during interrogation, an FIR was registered regarding this alleged illegal conversion racket and it came out that one Umar Gautam is involved in getting the citizen of another religion converted to the Muslim religion on large scale and about 1000 non-muslims have been converted and married with Muslims.

In the investigation, it was found that Gautam had created a gang for the aforesaid aim and object, and Irfan Shaikh (appellant), who was working as an Interpreter in Sign Language Training and Research Centre, New Delhi, was a vital link of this syndicate.

In view of this, after collecting material and clinching evidence against the accused persons, including the appellant, a charge sheet was filed against Shaikh under Sections 120B, 121A, 123, 153A, 153B, 295A, 298, 417 I.P.C. and Section 3/5/8 U.P. Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, (Act).

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