'Distributing Bible Not a Crime': HC Reprimands UP Police Over Anti-Conversion Case

MP, December 9, 2025, Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday criticised the police action in a case filed under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The court observed that preaching religious messages and distributing the Bible are not criminal offences.

The division bench, comprising Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Babita Rani, passed the order in response to a petition filed by Ram Keval Prasad and others. The petitioners sought the quashing of an FIR registered at the Dhammaur police station in Sultanpur district. The FIR, lodged on August 17, 2025, was filed under the anti-conversion law and various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

In the FIR, complainant Manoj Kumar Singh accused the petitioners of organising a prayer meeting, distributing Bibles to Dalits, poor families, women, and children, and attempting to convert them. However, the counsel for the petitioners argued that the FIR was fabricated and did not establish any criminal offence.

While the state counsel opposed the petition, they failed to provide justification for how preaching and distributing the Bible could be considered a criminal act. After hearing both sides, the court directed the state government to file a counter affidavit addressing four specific points raised during the hearing. The petitioners have been allowed to submit a rejoinder within two weeks of receiving the state's reply. The court has scheduled the next hearing for six weeks later.