HC
Molana Mohammad Ramzan Janmohammad was arrested by Kutch (East) police for allegedly presiding over the Nikah of a 17-year-old girl to a Muslim man. The HC granted him bail on a bond of Rs 25,000 with a local surety, subject to conditions including surrendering his passport, restrictions on travel, monthly attendance at a police station for six months, and non-interference with evidence. Since the bride was a minor, police invoked provisions of the Pocso Act against the groom and those involved in solemnising the marriage. Provisions of the child marriage prohibition law and Section 4A of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act were also invoked, as the cleric allegedly changed the girl’s name, solemnised the marriage without verifying her identity documents or age, and facilitated her religious conversion. The cleric approached the HC seeking bail, maintaining his innocence and assuring the court that he would abide by all conditions imposed. The state govt opposed his plea, citing the gravity of the offence. After hearing both sides, Justice H D Suthar noted that Molana had no criminal antecedents and that there was no allegation of sexual assault against him.
Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has granted conditional bail to a cleric accused of illegal religious conversion and offences under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Pocso Act for allegedly solemnising the marriage of a minor girl to a man of another religion in Rapar town of Kutch district earlier this year.