Mass Religious Conversion 'Racket' Case| Allahabad High Court Grants Bail To Islamic Scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui

The Allahabad High Court today granted bail to Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui who was arrested in September 2021 by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Uttar Pradesh Police on the charges of running a mass religious conversion racket in the State and converting the religion of over 1000 people across the state. 

The bench of Justice Attau Rahman Masoodi and Justice Saroj Yadav passed this order today on the bail plea moved by Siddiqui. A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited.

Siddiqui is one of the famous clerics of western Uttar Pradesh. He is also the chairman of the Global Peace Center. He runs the Jamia Imam Waliullah Trust. He, along with other Muslim scholars including Mohammad Umar Gautam and Mufti Qazi Jahangir Qasmi was arrested on the same charges under the UP 'Anti love Jihad' Law.

It may be noted that in 2021 the UP ATS claimed that it had busted the alleged illegal conversion racket last year being run under the guidance of Mohammad Umar Gautam and Kaleem Siddiqui who were using psychological pressure for forceful conversions, as part of their plan to set up an Islamic state and received funding from different countries to carry out conversions.

It was also alleged that Siddiqui was involved in promoting enmity between different groups of religions and disturbing the sovereignty and integrity of India by influencing the non-Muslim sects to convert and embrace Islam.

In fact, after arresting Siddiqui, Uttar Pradesh's ADG (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar convened a press conference wherein he claimed that Siddiqui had links with a large-scale illegal conversion racket and that he not only performed conversions but also gave money to madrassas for the purpose of illegal conversions.

He had further said that Siddiqui's trust gets money from abroad and in the investigation of the case, it had been found that his trust had received Rs 3 crore from abroad.

Senior Advocate I. B. Singh assisted by Advocate Zia Ul Qayyum appeared for the petitioner.

Case title - Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui Vs. State Of U.P. Thru Prin.Secy. Home [CRLA/2734/2022]

Case Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (AB) 117