File photo of Allahabad High Court.
Law correspondent, Jagran, Prayagraj. Allahabad High Court has granted conditional bail to Dev Sahayam Daniel Raj and co-accused Paras, accused of illegal religious conversion in Mirzapur. The court accepted that considering the circumstances and facts of the case, the accused could be granted bail.
Single bench gave order
It is alleged that poor and people belonging to the tribal community were induced to convert to Christianity by luring them with financial assistance, treatment and other facilities. This order has been given by the single bench of Justice Ashutosh Srivastava.
Daniel and co-accused Paras are in jail.
Daniel and co-accused Paras are in jail since September 30, 2025. A case has been registered against him in Ahraura police station under Sections 3 and 5 (1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act 2021. According to the prosecution story, the gang used to convert poor, vulnerable and tribal people to Christianity by luring them with 'healing prayer meetings' and financial assistance. Daniel had informed during interrogation that he was appointed field in-charge by the Indian Missionaries Society (Tamil Nadu) and he has been active in the area since July 2025.
What argument did Daniel's lawyer give?
Daniel's lawyers Advocate Dinesh Kumar and Mary Puncha (Sheeb Josh) said that the petitioners were innocent and were falsely implicated. It was also said that the FIR was lodged on the complaint of Indrasan Singh, who is neither a 'victim', nor a 'relative' or 'close relative of the victim.'
Supreme Court decision also cited
The case also referred to the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Rajendra Bihari Lal and Others vs. State of Uttar Pradesh and Others 2025, in which it was held that the initiation of prosecution for the alleged offense of illegal conversion is limited as per the statutory scheme of unamended Section 4 of the 2021 Act. It can be initiated only at the request of the victim or, alternatively, at the request of his next of kin or blood relatives.
Trial court free to cancel bail if condition is violated
The Court has said that the petitioner will appear regularly on every date fixed by the subordinate court, unless the court concerned grants exemption from personal appearance. The trial court will be free to cancel the bail in case of violation of the conditions.
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