Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR filed against three Muslim men who were accused of preaching Islam, distributing religious pamphlets, and allegedly attempting religious conversion near a Hindu temple in Jamkhandi, Bagalkot district.
The complaint had alleged that the men used promises of employment, made derogatory remarks about Hinduism, and tried to convert people by luring them. However, the High Court ruled that there was no evidence of coercion, fraud, or inducement—key legal criteria required for prosecution under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022.
The court emphasized that distributing religious literature, or expressing one’s beliefs, does not amount to a criminal offence unless accompanied by force or deceitful intent to convert.
“The essence of a free society lies in the freedom to express, discuss, and propagate beliefs,” the division bench observed. It clarified that peaceful preaching, devoid of coercion or incentives, falls under the protections of Article 25 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees every citizen the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their religion.
Additionally, the bench noted that the complainant was neither the affected person nor a relative of any alleged victim. As per Section 4 of the 2022 Act, only an aggrieved person or their close relatives are permitted to file a complaint. Hence, the FIR was declared procedurally invalid.
