Kerala government on Saturday told the Supreme Court that there is no need for National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the alleged forced conversion and wedding of a Hindu woman to a Muslim in the state. The government told the top court that the state police are effectively investigating the matter.
In an affidavit, the state government said the examination by the police so far has not revealed any offences that warranted a probe. The government had earlier said it had no issue with the NIA probe.
The case grabbed attention after Akhila Ashokan, a homoeopathy doctor converted to Islam. She took a name, Hadiya and married a Muslim youth, Shefin Jahan from Kollam. Displeased with the marriage, girl’s father approached Kerala high court claiming that his daughter was indoctrinated and forcibly converted. He also said that she would be sent to Syria like 21 missing persons from who believed to have joined the Islamic State.
In May, the HC annulled their marriage but, in August the SC refused to stay the HC order and told NIA to probe situation that led to their wedding.
Earlier, the Supreme Court while hearing the Kerala ‘love jihad case’ said that a father can’t dictate personal life his 24-year-old daughter. The Apex court questioned how the Kerala HC annulled the marriage of Akhila Ashokan (Hadiya) and Jahan under Article 226.
Shafeen Jahan hitched Akhila Ashokan in December 2016 after the woman converted to Islam. Earlier in August, the NIA began to probe into the case after the top court’s orders. The SC said that after getting inputs from NIA and Kerala police, it would talk to Akhila to find out her views.
