UP man, who converted to Islam, goes missing; father alleges kidnapping by cleric
The Ayush Malik conversion case in Shamli has taken a fresh turn after his father, medicine trader Devraj Malik, filed an FIR against two people, alleging that his son did not return home after the Allahabad High Court allowed him to live according to his wishes.
On September 16, Ayush appeared before the Allahabad High Court along with his father. After hearing both sides, the court, noting that Ayush was an adult, granted him the freedom to live according to his wishes and make decisions about his life. However, Ayush has not returned to his home in Shamli since the court hearing.
Devraj Malik has now lodged a complaint naming Sultan Qari and Mufti Abdullah of Darul Uloom Deoband. Police have registered an FIR based on the complaint and started an investigation.
In his complaint, Devraj alleged that some people were eyeing the property owned by him and his son. He alleged that Ayush had earlier been misled into converting to Islam. According to the complaint, Ayush later returned to Hinduism following discussions with his family.
Devraj alleged that Sultan Qari subsequently approached the Allahabad High Court through a petition seeking Ayush's freedom to live independently. According to the complaint, both Ayush and his father appeared before the court on September 16. After the court granted Ayush the freedom to live according to his wishes, Devraj alleged that Sultan Qari took Ayush to an undisclosed location.
The father said that Ayush has not been traceable since then and has not returned home.
Devraj also alleged that Ayush's absence has affected the business at his medicine shop, causing financial losses to the family.
According to the complaint, Sultan Qari visited Devraj on September 18 and threatened him by saying that Ayush had been converted to Islam again. Devraj further alleged that he and his family were pressured to convert to Islam and transfer some of their property to Sultan Qari and some to Mufti Abdullah of Darul Uloom Deoband.
The complaint alleges that Devraj, his wife and Ayush were threatened with death if they did not comply. Devraj also alleged that the accused threatened to take control of the family's entire property.
He further expressed apprehension that Sultan Qari, Mufti Abdullah and their associates could harm his son and other family members.
Investigating officer Dharmendra Gautam said police had registered an FIR against Sultan Qari and Mufti Abdullah on the basis of the medicine trader's complaint. He said the police are investigating the matter and verifying the allegations made in the complaint.
The latest FIR follows an earlier case registered in the Ayush Malik conversion matter on June 6. Devraj Malik had then lodged a complaint alleging that Chandni Qureshi, along with her family, had trapped Ayush in a relationship and converted him with the intention of taking over his property.
The case named eight people, including Chandni Qureshi, her father Islam Qureshi and three clerics. Police arrested Chandni Qureshi, her father and three other accused and later filed a chargesheet in court. The accused were subsequently granted bail by the court.
Sultan Qari had filed the High Court petition describing Ayush as his friend and alleging that Ayush was being held captive by his father.- Ends
