The Allahabad High Court has declined to quash an FIR against the Vice Chancellor and other high-ranking officials of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science (SHUATS). The officials were accused of enticing a woman to convert to Christianity by offering her employment and other inducements. The court's recent observation highlighted that no genuine religion would condone malpractices by priests or spiritual leaders.
The FIR, filed in November 2023, alleges that the victim, an alumna of Allahabad University, was targeted during her student days by Rekha Patel (accused no. 2). Patel reportedly lured girls with gifts and other incentives to encourage their conversion to Christianity. The victim, belonging to the lower middle class, was regularly taken to church by Patel and allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation by the accused, including RB Lal, the Vice Chancellor of SHUATS.
In 2014, the victim was baptized, and subsequently, she was offered a job as a Stenographer (Hindi) in the Directorate of (HRM&R) SHUATS. However, she was later dismissed in 2022 after an internal inquiry committee found her guilty of cheating someone of 5.5 lakh rupees.
Upon reviewing the content of the FIR, the court noted the victim's ordeal, describing it as a "sad saga" of atrocities. The victim's vulnerability was exploited by Rekha Patel, who manipulated her into converting to Christianity by promising job security and regular church attendance.
While acknowledging that the investigation is in its early stages, the court asserted its duty not to impede the investigation when a serious cognizable offense is alleged. The court emphasized the gravity of the crime against women and expressed skepticism about the notion that a woman would falsely implicate the accused for retaliation, putting her dignity at stake.
Without prejudging the investigation's outcome, the court directed the Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur, to personally oversee the investigation. Three senior police officers of the C.O. rank from Hamirpur were tasked with conducting a transparent and objective investigation, delving into the matter thoroughly within 90 days. The court stipulated that a report under Section 173(2) of the CrPC be submitted to the concerned Magistrate.
In recognition of the heinous nature of the offense, the court ordered the accused to surrender before the court by December 20, 2023, and apply for regular bail. This decision underscores the court's commitment to ensuring a fair and thorough investigation into the alleged crimes while upholding the principles of justice and accountability.
TAGS: SHUATS officials FIR Religious conversion Vice Chancellor Sam Higginbottom University Christianity Inducements Malpractices Rekha Patel
