The Thane police, investigating a case of alleged illegal conversion in Ulhasnagar, have transferred the investigation to the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). This decision was made after the police uncovered sensitive documents during their investigation, suggesting potential national security implications.
The case revolves around the alleged conversion of a 23-year-old woman, Drishti Chaudhary, to Islam. Her mother, Kalpana Chaudhary, filed a complaint alleging that Drishti was illegally converted by Salim Chowdhury, the trustee of a mosque, and a maulana, with the involvement of nine others. Kalpana claims that Drishti was brainwashed and coerced into converting, and that the accused tried to create animosity between different groups.
The police arrested Drishti, Salim, and the maulana on August 1st, based on Kalpana’s complaint. During the investigation, the police discovered several sensitive documents from Drishti, raising concerns about the potential for national security threats. Kalpana also alleged that the maulana fabricated a conversion certificate, falsely claiming her presence during the conversion process.
Kalpana, a resident of Kurla Camp in Ulhasnagar, works as a house help. She described Drishti as intelligent and ambitious, aspiring to become an engineer. During the pandemic, a neighbour, Afida Shaikh, who is among the accused, offered Drishti tuition classes for her children. Kalpana claims that Afida and the other accused used this opportunity to brainwash Drishti by exposing her to videos of Islamist preacher Zakir Naik.
She further alleged that Salim offered her Rs 50,000 to drop the case. A senior police official told The Times of India, “In this case, the accused recently managed to get bail, but we have found some material from the accused’s custody. Hence, to probe the case from a national security-related angle, it has been transferred to ATS and NIA for further investigation.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, workers associated with several Hindu organizations organized a rally in Thane, expressing their concerns about the alleged illegal conversion. The transfer of the case to the ATS and NIA highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the potential national security implications of the alleged illegal conversion. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are likely to focus on uncovering the extent of the alleged conspiracy and the individuals involved.
