NIA re-registers Kerala Police FIR to probe Love Jihad
NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday re-registered a Kerala police FIR and took up an investigation into the alleged love jihad case following a directive from the Supreme Court.
“In compliance with the orders dated 16-8-17 of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the SLP 5777 of 2017, the FIR No. 21/2016 under Section 57 of Kerala Police Act, 153-A, 295-A and 107 of IPC, of Perinthalmanna Police Station, District Mallapuram, Kerala has been re-registered as RC-01/2017/NIA/KOC today by the NIA and investigation taken up,” NIA Inspector General and agency spokesperson Alok Mittal said in a statement.
The apex court had on Wednesday ordered a probe into the marriage of Shafin Jahan and Akhila Asokan under the supervision of a retired SC judge to examine the alleged indoctrination and conversion to Islam of the girl and if this was part of an organised "love jihad". Their marriage was earlier annulled by the Kerala High Court.
The apex court’s directive came after the agency submitted that Akhila's conversion to Islam and subsequent marriage to a Muslim does not appear to be an isolated case.