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Synopsis

A special court in Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar sentenced a Christian couple, Jose Pappachan and Sheeja Amn, to five years in prison for violating Uttar Pradesh’s anti-illegal conversion law. The court found them guilty of forcibly converting Dalits in Gram Shahpur Firozpur by luring them with financial incentives, inducements, and organizing religious feasts. The couple, originally from Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, were also fined Rs 25,000 each.

Special Judge Ram Bilas Singh delivered the verdict on January 22, 2025, convicting and sentencing them under Section 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. However, it acquitted them from the charges under Section 3(1)(dha) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court noted that the couple had failed to justify why they traveled such a long distance to the village despite not being residents of the area.

An FIR was registered at Jalalpur police station, alleging that the couple had been conducting Bible lessons and promising monetary benefits to local Dalits in exchange for converting to Christianity. The prosecution argued that their activities were a clear violation of the state’s anti-illegal conversion law, which prohibits religious conversions through fraud, coercion, or inducement.

Following their conviction, Sheeja Amn appealed the conviction in the Allahabad High Court, where her counsel argued that she had been falsely implicated and had no prior criminal record. Given that she had already served eight months of her five-year sentence, the bench of Justice Karunesh Singh Pawar on February 5 granted her bail, citing her status as a woman and the unlikelihood of an early hearing of her appeal. However, the court directed her to deposit the fine imposed by the trial court within two months of her release.

Jose Pappachan has also moved an appeal before the high court. The order on his plea is yet to come out. The couple's appeals against the conviction will be heard by the Allahabad High Court in due course.

Case Title: Mrs. Sheeja Amn Vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Secy. Deptt. Of Home Lko. And Another