IndiaToday.in | Posted by Sonalee Borgohain
New Delhi, September 16, 2017 | UPDATED 14:40 IST
Earlier in August, the Supreme Court had directed the NIA to probe the case of conversion of Akhila, also known as Hadiya, to Islam to find out if there was any terror angle involved in the matter.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the NIA to probe the case of conversion of Akhila.The controversial case of conversion of a woman to Islam and her subsequent marriage to Shafeen Jahan has taken a fresh turn with the man filing a plea in the Supreme Court against a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Earlier in August, the Supreme Court had directed the NIA to probe the case of conversion of Akhila, also known as Hadiya, to Islam to find out if there was any terror angle involved in the matter. It was alleged that her conversion was carried by a bunch of people acting at the behest of terror outfit ISIS .
Now, Akhila's husband Shafeen Jahan has alleged that the NIA is not fair in its investigation of the case. Making this submission in the Supreme Court today, Shafeen sought fresh direction from the apex court to stop NIA probe into the matter.
The NIA is the nodal central agency for all terror related probe. Shafeen has also contended that Akhila cannot be forced to stay at her parental home without her consent. The Supreme Court is likely to hear Shafeen's plea on September 22.
AKHILA CONVERSION CASE
Before the NIA took over the controversial conversion case, it was being investigated by the Kerala Police. The Kerala Police had filed a case under Section 57 of Kerala Police Act that deals with the charges of promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion.
In May this year, the Kerala High Court had declared the marriage of Akhila with Shafeen as "null and void" . They had married in December last year. The high court ordered that Akhila be placed under her parents' protective custody.
Challenging the Kerala High Court order, Shafeen Jahan moved the Supreme Court. Shafeen claimed Akhila converted to Islam on her own in 2014. He also sought direction to her father to present her before the Supreme Court for her deposition.
On the other hand, Akhila's father said that she was trapped by a "well-oiled racket" that indoctrinate gullible people and persuade them to convert to Islam. Her father also told the court that Akhila had been radicalised and that there was a conspiracy to send her to Syria to work for the ISIS.