The Supreme Court of India, on Monday, upheld its interim order to grant bail to Rajendra Bihari Lal, the Vice-Chancellor of Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS) in Uttar Pradesh, who was implicated in two criminal cases related to alleged illegal religious conversions. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, emphasized the importance of personal liberty while expressing concerns over the prolonged delay in the bail hearing by the Allahabad High Court.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court bench, which also included Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted its interim bail decision from March 4, relating to the FIRs registered at Nawabganj and Naini police stations in Prayagraj. The Chief Justice confirmed the continuance of the interim bail and mandated Lal’s cooperation with the ongoing investigation in one of the cases.
Chief Justice Chandrachud made a noteworthy observation regarding the Uttar Pradesh Police’s keen involvement in the matter, suggesting an unusual level of interest. The court decisively rejected the state government’s request to revoke the March 4 interim bail order, which was sought on grounds of allegedly concealed facts by the accused.
The bench took into account the arrest of Lal on December 31, 2023, and the subsequent delay in his high court bail plea hearing, acknowledging that the investigation in one of the cases had concluded with a charge sheet already filed.
Lal faced charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and extortion. Additionally, he was charged under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Lal, pointed out his client’s arrest despite a standing order from the apex court.
Also Read
The Uttar Pradesh Police had previously described Lal and others as central figures in a mass religious conversion scheme purportedly funded by international sources from around 20 countries. The police portrayed Lal as a “notorious criminal” with a history of involvement in multiple offenses, including cheating and murder, spanning over two decades across the state.
Allegations against Lal and others included orchestrating a gathering of approximately 90 Hindus at the Evangelical Church of India in Hariharganj, Fatehpur, with the intent of converting them to Christianity, allegedly using undue influence, coercion, and promises of financial incentives.
