Love Jihad cases refers to notable reported incidents in India where Muslim men have been accused of using romantic relationships or marriage to convert non-Muslim women to Islam, often with allegations of deception, coercion, or radicalisation. These cases remain highly controversial, with varying interpretations ranging from individual crimes to organised patterns.[1]
Notable Cases by Year
2009–2010
- Early cases emerged in Kerala and Karnataka. Hindu and Christian organisations claimed hundreds of women were lured. One of the first widely reported cases involved a Hindu woman in Karnataka whose father approached the High Court alleging "Love Jihad".
2014
- Tara Shahdeo Case (Jharkhand): National-level rifle shooter Tara Shahdeo filed an FIR alleging that her husband had married her under a false Hindu identity ("Ranjeet Singh Kohli") using Hindu rituals, but was actually a Muslim man named Raqibul Hasan. She alleged she was kept in confinement, physically assaulted, and pressured to undergo a religious conversion. Due to the high-profile nature and administrative links of the accused, the probe was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). On September 30, 2023, a Special CBI Court in Ranchi convicted Raqibul Hasan under IPC sections for rape and criminal conspiracy, sentencing him to life imprisonment. Co-conspirators, including his mother and a former High Court registrar who facilitated the deception, received sentences of 10 and 15 years respectively.
2017
- Hadiya Case (Kerala): Akhila (later Hadiya), a Hindu woman who converted to Islam and married Shafeen Jahan. Her father alleged forced conversion. The Kerala High Court annulled the marriage, but the Supreme Court restored it, upholding her right as an adult.[2]
2020
- Uttar Pradesh and other states saw increased cases after anti-conversion ordinances. Several Muslim men were arrested under new laws for alleged forced conversions through marriage.[3]
2021
- Multiple arrests reported in Uttar Pradesh under the new anti-conversion law. Cases involved allegations of fake identities and conversion pressure.[4]
2022
- Shradha Walkar Murder (Delhi): Shradha Walkar, a Hindu woman, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her live-in partner Aftab Poonawala. The case was widely linked to Love Jihad patterns by many media outlets and politicians.[5]
2023
- Several cases reported from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan involving allegations of stalking, forced conversion, and violence. The release of the film The Kerala Story brought renewed attention to older Kerala cases.
- Reports of vigilante actions and attacks on interfaith couples also increased during this period.
2024
- Yashashree Shinde Case (Maharashtra): In Uran, Maharashtra, a young Dalit woman named Yashashree Shinde was murdered. The accused, Dawood Shaikh, who had a prior relationship history with the victim, was arrested. The incident triggered significant local protests, with community leaders invoking the "Love Jihad" narrative. The state police processed the case under standard murder charges alongside sections of the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
2025–2026
- Supreme Court Constitutional Review: By 2026, over 12 Indian states (including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana) operated active anti-conversion frameworks. In early 2026, the Supreme Court of India clubbed multiple Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging these laws. The petitioners argue that the laws are overly broad, reverse the burden of proof, and infringe upon privacy and voluntary conversion, while state governments argue they are necessary to prevent fraudulent exploitation. The constitutional review remains pending before a three-judge bench.
Statutory Framework for Prosecution
When individual complaints involving allegations of identity concealment, sexual exploitation, or forced conversion are filed, they are legally categorized under the following statutory frameworks:
- Rape by Fraudulent Consent (Section 376 IPC / Section 64 BNS): Applied when a complainant establishes that sexual intercourse occurred based on a false promise of marriage or a falsified identity.
- Cheating (Section 420 IPC / Section 318 BNS): For cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property or identity concealment.
- State Freedom of Religion Acts: Specific provisions penalizing unlawful conversions with enhanced prison sentences if the victim is a minor, a woman, or belongs to a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe.
Government Response
Many BJP-ruled states have passed anti-conversion laws specifically addressing conversions through marriage. Uttar Pradesh’s 2021 law is one of the strictest.[6]
References
- ↑ "India's 'love jihad' conspiracy theory targets Muslim-Hindu interfaith wedding". NPR. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Love jihad: The Indian law threatening interfaith love". BBC News. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Love jihad: What a reported miscarriage says about India's new law". BBC News. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "India's 'love jihad' anti-conversion laws aim to further oppress minorities". The Conversation. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "'They cut him into pieces': India's 'love jihad' conspiracy theory turns lethal". The Guardian. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
- ↑ "Love jihad: The Indian law threatening interfaith love". BBC News. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2026.