India: Muslim scholar Kaleem Siddiqui, 14 others receive life imprisonment over ‘illegal conversions’

An Indian-based Islamic scholar, Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, along with Umar Gautam and ten others, have been sentenced to life imprisonment over “illegal conversion” cases.

Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi delivered the verdict after they were convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 417 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy, the Illegal Conversion Act (sections 3, 4, and 5) among others.

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Idris Qureshi, one of the defendants, was granted a temporary reprieve by the High Court with a stay order. Meanwhile, the remaining convicted Muslims have been sent to jail.

Judge Tripathi said, “The evidence presented was substantial enough to establish the guilt of the accused under the specified charges.”