A man's 40-day ordeal in prison

Bareilly: In a shocking case of false allegations and judicial harassment, Hindu Abhishek Gupta was arrested and spent 40 days in jail for allegedly running a religious conversion programme. The case, which was later found to be baseless, has left Abhishek's life in tatters and he is now seeking justice against those who ruined his life.

According to Abhishek, the problems started when a member of a Hindu organization filed a complaint against him, claiming that he was running a religious conversion program in Bichpuri village. Despite his strong Hindu faith, Abhishek was arrested on May 30, 2022, and subjected to police brutality.

“I was beaten mercilessly by the police and my family was threatened,” Abhishek said in an interview. “I was kept in an overcrowded cell and was denied access to basic amenities. It was a traumatic experience and left deep scars on my psyche.”

Abhishek's family, including his wife and children, were also harassed and intimidated by the police and the complainant. “We were treated like criminals and our reputation was ruined,” said Abhishek's wife. “We are still struggling to come to terms with this ordeal.”

The incident that led to Abhishek's arrest took place in Bichpuri village under Bithri Chainpur police station in Bareilly. On May 29, 2022, Himanshu Patel of Sakatpur village filed a complaint with the police, alleging that Abhishek Gupta and a group of eight people were conducting a religious conversion program.

The complaint alleged that 40 people were found at the crime scene and that Abhishek and his wife and others were holding religious books of another faith. Following the complaint, the police filed a complaint on May 30, 2022 and Abhishek was arrested along with Kundan Lal, another accused, under the Religion Prohibition Act.

After a two-year ordeal, the court finally acquitted Abhishek and his co-accused Kundan Lal of all charges under the Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act on July 30, 2024. The court also directed the SSP of Bareilly to take action against the false accusers, including the complainant, witnesses and police officials involved.

The court's verdict was a confirmation of Abhishek's innocence, but it came too late. Abhishek's life is shattered and he is now fighting to rebuild his reputation and his life. “I have lost my job and my family is struggling to make ends meet,” Abhishek said. “I am seeking justice against those who ruined my life, but I fear it may be too late.”

Abhishek's case highlights the need for better protection against false accusations and the importance of upholding justice. It also raises questions about the role of the police and judiciary in protecting the rights of citizens. “This case is a classic example of judicial harassment and police brutality,” said a legal expert. “It is a wake-up call for the authorities to act against false accusations and ensure that justice is done in a fair and timely manner.”