SC Stays Arrest of SHUATS Vice Chancellor And Director In Mass Religious Conversion Case

The Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and J B Pardiwala stayed the arrest of Dr. Rajendra Bihari Lal and Vinod Bihari Lal in the mass religious conversion case.

Previously, the Allahabad High Court rejected the plea of the Vice Chancellor and Director of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS) namely  Dr. Rajendra Bihari Lal and Vinod Bihari Lal respectively for offences under Sections 1530A, 506, 420, 467, 468,471 of the Indian Penal Code as well as sections 3 and 5(1) of U.P Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.

The Allahabad High Court observed that the accused cannot claim parity with other persons released on anticipatory bail due to the evidence collected against them in this regard by the investigating officer.

The Supreme Court issued notice in the present case and stayed their arrest. The order read-

“Pending further orders, there shall be a stay of arrest of the petitioners in connection with FIR No 224 dated 15 April 2022 registered at Police Station Kotwari, District Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh.”

CASE: VINOD BIHARI LAL V. STATE OF U.P

SLP ( CRIMINAL) DIARY NO. 9364/ 2023

Next date of hearing; 24.03.2023