WEB DESK / New Delhi
The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) which is examining the interfaith marriages in Kerala has not unearthed any evidence of coercion that can result in prosecution in these cases, report Hindustan Times quoting officials familiar with the matter.
“The NIA is not supposed to file any further report in this regard in the Supreme Court. As far as the NIA is concerned, the matter stands closed as the agency has not found any evidence to suggest that in any of these cases either the man or the woman was coerced to convert,” a senior agency official told the paper on condition of anonymity.
Eleven cases of interfaith marriages were picked up from a list of 89 such marriages that were already before law enforcement authorities (usually because of complaints by parents, most alleged to be cases of ‘love jihad’) and which were referred to the federal anti-terrorism agency by the Kerala police. The Supreme Court while disposing the Hadiya case had allowed the NIA to continue its probe but warning that the outcome of the enquiry would have no impact on the marriage.
The investigation happened in the context of the Hadiya case. Hadiya converted to Islam and married Shafin Jahan, but her marriage was annulled by the Kerala high court on the basis of a petition filed by her father; t he Supreme Court set aside the high court order.