Ayodhya Love Jihad Case: Hindu Woman Alleges Deception, Threats to Convert
Ayodhya, April 28, 2025 – In the sacred city of Ayodhya, a disturbing case has emerged that once again stokes the ongoing debate over “love jihad” in India. Arti Chauhan, a Hindu woman, has accused her husband, Khursheed Alam, who introduced himself under the false Hindu identity “Sunny”—of deceiving her into marriage and later pressuring her to convert to Islam under threats of violence.
Marriage Under False Identity
According to Arti, she met Khursheed in 2020, when he posed as a Hindu man from the Kshatriya community. Their relationship culminated in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony at Badi Devkali Temple, Ayodhya. For five years, Arti lived under the belief that her husband shared her faith. However, she now alleges that after their marriage, Khursheed and his family began pressuring her to embrace Islam, warning that refusal could cost her life.
“He kept insisting that conversion was necessary for our future. When I resisted, the threats escalated,” Arti stated in her complaint. Feeling betrayed and endangered, she approached the Ayodhya police on April 25, 2025, filing a case against Khursheed and 14 others allegedly involved in the conspiracy to mislead and coerce her.
Police Investigation and Charges
Following her complaint, Ayodhya police registered an FIR invoking sections related to cheating, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, along with violations of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
“We are treating the matter with utmost seriousness. The investigation is underway, and all allegations are being thoroughly examined,” said SSP Rajesh Sharma. Authorities are also probing the role of neighbours who allegedly aided Khursheed in maintaining his false identity.
“Love Jihad” Debate Reignited
The incident has once again brought the controversial concept of “love jihad” into the spotlight. The term refers to alleged campaigns by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into marriage to convert them to Islam—a narrative that remains talk of the town.
Social media platforms exploded with reactions, labelling the case a textbook example of “love jihad,” claiming “15 people conspired to trap her.” However, the police have cautioned against premature conclusions, urging the public to await verified findings.
Past judicial precedents have given credence to the concept, including a 2024 Bareilly court ruling sentencing a Muslim man to life imprisonment for fraudulent religious conversion through marriage.
A City on Edge
Ayodhya, already a city of heightened sensitivities following the 2024 consecration of the Sri Ram Temple, is witnessing renewed communal tension. Residents have expressed mixed reactions—some viewing Arti’s case as proof of a sinister pattern, others urging restraint until investigations conclude.
“This is about safeguarding our daughters,” said a local businessman. Meanwhile, Few stressed, “Not all interfaith marriages are plots; caution must not turn into prejudice.”
Broader Implications
The case could have wide-reaching legal and social impacts. Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law, among the strictest in India, could see its provisions tested and further emboldened. Other states like Maharashtra are also considering similar laws, citing a surge in alleged “love jihad” complaints.
Socially, cases like these risk deepening mistrust between communities, undermining genuine interfaith relationships. Notably, in 2024, actor Mukesh Khanna defended actress Sonakshi Sinha’s interfaith marriage, arguing that “love jihad” accusations should not taint consensual unions.
Arti’s Fight for Justice
Currently under police protection, Arti Chauhan remains determined to seek justice. “I was betrayed, but I refuse to stay silent,” she asserted. Her case now rests in the hands of investigators and the judiciary, standing as a grim reminder of the fragile interplay between love, identity, and faith in contemporary India.
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