National shooting champion Tara Shahdeo, who was deceived by Raqibul Hasan Khan alias Ranjit Kumar Kohli into marriage, and later tortured for over a month to convert to Islam, finally got justice. The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court handed sentences to her former husband Hasan, his mother Kaushar Rani, and then registrar of the High Court Mustaque Ahmed, who was held guilty of conspiring.
CBI court punishes the guilty
On Thursday, October 5, the CBI Court handed down sentences to individuals found guilty in the Tara Shahdeo religious conversion case. The CBI court sentenced Tara Shahdeo’s ex-husband, Rakib-ul Hasan (also known as Ranjit Kohli), to life imprisonment, while his mother, Kaushar Rani, received a ten-year prison term. Additionally, Mustaque Ahmed, the former registrar of the High Court who was accused of conspiring in the case, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Tara Shahdeo, a national shooter, had been subjected to pressure to convert her religion by her ex-husband, Rakib-ul Hasan, after their marriage in 2014. In 2017, the CBI filed a chargesheet in the Tara Shahdeo case.
Speaking about the verdict on October 5, Tara Shahdeo emphasized that no woman should face assault or coercion to change her faith. She expressed gratitude to the court and the CBI for delivering justice. She stated that this verdict was not only for her but also for every daughter in the country, instilling trust that those who commit such acts would be punished. She hoped that this judgment would empower people to speak out against such actions openly.
In response to the verdict, Mukhtar Ahmed, the lawyer representing Rakibul Hasan, confirmed the developments and announced that they would appeal the decision in the High Court. He characterized the case as a family dispute and believed that the accused were not serious offenders. He expressed confidence in obtaining relief from the High Court.
The CBI court’s sentencing followed the conviction of all three primary accused individuals in the Tara Sahadeo conversion case. These individuals were charged with criminal conspiracy, physical relation on the promise of marriage, causing hurt, wounding religious sentiments, criminal intimidation, and fraudulent marriage ceremony. The verdict was delivered on September 30 and was related to Tara Sahadeo’s allegations against her estranged husband, mother-in-law, and another person, accusing them of various offenses and attempting to forcibly convert her to Islam against her will.
Tara Shahdeo’s love jihad and Torture case
The origins of this case go back to 2014, when Tara married Rakib-ul Hasan on July 7, following Hindu customs. Rakib-ul Hasan assumed the identity of Ranjit Kohli to deceive the national-level gold medallist shooter. However, just a day after their wedding, Rakib-ul Hasan, along with Mustaque Ahmad, who held the position of registrar of vigilance in Jharkhand High Court (HC) at that time, began pressuring the national-level shooter to convert to Islam and undergo a Nikaah (Islamic marriage ceremony).
Upon discovering her husband’s true religious identity, the victim filed a complaint against Rakib-ul Hasan and his mother at the Hindpidhi police station on 19 August 2014. The charges included sections 498A (subjecting a woman to cruelty by her husband or his family for property) and 34 (committing any criminal act involving two or more persons with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Tara alleged that her husband had misrepresented his faith and manipulated her into marrying him. Furthermore, she accused him of subjecting her to torment when she refused to convert to Islam. Mustaque Ahmad was implicated in the conspiracy to torture and coerce her into conversion.
Tara’s attorney, who aided the national agency in the case, disclosed that Hasan had deceived Tara into marriage by posing as a Hindu. After the marriage ceremony, he forcibly attempted to convert her to Islam and undergo a Nikaah. When she resisted, Tara was confined to her home and subjected to various forms of abuse for an extended period. Ultimately, the police intervened to rescue her.
Meanwhile, Kaushar Rani threatened the national shooter, warning her that if she did not convert to Islam, her partners would continuously change. In other words, she would force Tara into prostitution. Tara Shahdeo was explicitly forbidden from applying sindoor (a traditional Hindu symbol) on her forehead, under threat of physical harm. Multiple Muslim clerics were brought in to pressure her into conversion.
It must be mentioned that Kaushar Rani reverted to her original faith Islam after her Hindu husband passed away. “According to sources, during the probe, it was found that Rakibul alias Ranjit Kohli’s mother, Kaushlaya, was Muslim (Kauser) at her time of marriage. She converted to Hinduism. However, when Rakibul’s father passed away, she re-converted herself to Islam”, reported India Today.
When she resisted these efforts, she endured severe beatings and was threatened with not only her own murder but also that of her family members if she disclosed the torture she was being subjected to. The accused also made dowry demands from her. This oppression continued for a month until Tara Shahdeo decided to break free. She bore cigarette burn marks on her body and required hospitalization after her rescue. While Hasan admitted to physically assaulting her, he denied compelling her to change her religion.
In 2015, the CBI assumed control of the investigation, following a decision by the Jharkhand High Court. Subsequently, a case was filed in Delhi. Tara Shahdeo’s statement was recorded under section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The prosecution presented up to 26 witnesses in court, and the cross-examination process lasted for over seven months. In 2017, the CBI filed a chargesheet in the Tara Shahdeo case.
Based on allegations of cruelty, a Ranchi family court granted her a divorce on 26 June 2018. In 2019, a CBI court in Ranchi framed charges against Raqibul Hassan for allegedly providing false information about his religion when marrying national-level air rifle shooter Tara Shahdeo, which eventually led to their divorce. The court also framed charges against four others who were accused of assisting Hassan.
Finally, after nine years of legal battles, on 30 September 2023, the court convicted Tara’s husband, Raqibul Hasan, his mother Kaushar Rani, and Mushtaq Ahmed. The court subsequently pronounced the sentences for the convicted individuals.
Following the conviction, Tara expressed her faith in the judiciary and gratitude for receiving justice after a nine-year wait. She thanked all those who supported her throughout this ordeal.
