Gadag, Karnataka — In a case that has stirred controversy and debate across Karnataka, a Hindu man has alleged that his Muslim wife and her family coerced him into converting to Islam after their marriage. The incident, reported from the Gadag district, has prompted police to file a case under the state's stringent anti-conversion law.
The complainant, Vishal Kumar Gokavi, claimed that he was pressured into embracing Islam following his marriage to Tehseen Hosamani. The couple had dated for three years before marrying under the Special Marriage Act in November 2024. However, Gokavi stated that after the registered marriage, Tehseen and her family insisted on performing a second marriage ceremony according to Islamic customs on April 25, 2025.
Allegations of Conversion and Threats
In his police complaint, Gokavi alleged that during the Islamic ceremony, his name was changed without his consent and that he was forced to perform namaz (Islamic prayers) regularly. He further claimed that he was asked to send photographic proof of him praying and was threatened with a false rape case if he refused to comply.
“These threats and pressures became unbearable. I kept quiet for months, hoping things would change. But eventually, I had to speak out,” Gokavi told local media after filing the complaint.
Case Registered Under Anti-Conversion Law
Based on Gokavi’s complaint, police registered a case under Sections 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which corresponds with the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2021. This law prohibits religious conversion by force, fraud, or inducement and carries penalties ranging from 3 to 10 years in prison, especially when the alleged victim is a woman or a member of a Scheduled Caste or Tribe.
Broader Context
This is not the first case of alleged forced conversion in Karnataka this year. In April, a woman in Belagavi accused her husband of rape and religious coercion, which led to the Karnataka High Court denying the accused man's bail. Civil rights activists have criticized such incidents as part of a growing trend of communal tensions surrounding interfaith marriages in the state.
Hi, I am the editor of this article, if you find anything offending or wrong in this article you can contact me via gmail ~ lade.pranav2@gmail.com
