Life Sentences for Religious Conversion Racket Convicts

A special court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced 12 individuals, including Islamic preacher Maulana Kalim Siddiqui and Islamic Da'wah Centre founder Mohammed Umar Gautam, to life imprisonment for running an illegal religious conversion racket. Four additional individuals received a 10-year jail sentence, and heavy fines were imposed on all convicts. Victims are to receive compensation.

A special NIA-Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced 12 individuals to life imprisonment on Wednesday, including Islamic preacher Maulana Kalim Siddiqui and Islamic Da'wah Centre founder Mohammed Umar Gautam, in a case involving an illegal religious conversion racket dating back to 2021.

Special Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi also handed down 10-year jail sentences to four other individuals, imposed heavy fines on all convicts, and awarded compensation to the victims.

The accused were found to be part of an organization converting students with hearing disabilities and impoverished individuals to Islam, allegedly funded by Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, according to officials.