Court observed that faith is a matter of personal belief and cannot be determined solely by the circumstances of one’s birth while granting bail to the accused
A court in Maharashtra’s Nashik has granted bail to Nida Khan, one of the accused in an alleged religious conversion case, observing that a story from the life of Lord Krishna illustrates that a person’s place of birth does not determine their religion.
The court made the observation while hearing Khan’s bail plea, noting that religion is a matter of individual faith and cannot be presumed solely on the basis of birth.
Court grants bail
The Nashik court granted bail to Nida Khan after considering the material placed before it and the stage of the investigation.
While allowing the plea, the court remarked that the allegations against the accused would be examined during the course of the trial and that the bail order should not be treated as a reflection on the merits of the case.
Reference to Lord Krishna
In its order, the court referred to the story of Lord Krishna’s birth, observing that although Krishna was born in a prison, he was raised elsewhere, illustrating that circumstances of birth alone cannot define an individual’s identity or faith.
The court used the reference while discussing the broader principle that a person’s religion cannot be determined merely by their place of birth.
Case pertains to alleged religious conversions
The case relates to allegations of unlawful religious conversions in Nashik. Authorities have accused several individuals, including Nida Khan, of involvement in activities linked to religious conversions.
The accused have denied the allegations, and the matter remains under investigation.
Bail subject to conditions
The court granted bail subject to specified conditions, including cooperation with the ongoing investigation and compliance with directions issued by the investigating agency.
The proceedings in the case will continue as the investigation progresses and the matter moves toward trial.
Observations not a verdict
The court clarified that its observations were made only for the purpose of deciding the bail application and should not be construed as findings on the guilt or innocence of the accused.
The final outcome of the case will depend on the evidence presented during the trial.
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