BENGALURU: In Belagavi, Karnataka, a couple and five others have been accused of forcing 28-year-old woman to convert to Islam by threatening to expose her private photographs.
The police have filed an FIR against the accused, who have been identified as Rafik and his wife. According to the complaint, the couple engaged in sexual activities with the woman and took intimate photos of her, which they later used to blackmail her into converting to Islam.
The police reported that the three individuals were living together, and in 2023, Rafik allegedly raped the woman and pressured her to convert to Islam.
He also demanded that she wear a burqa instead of "kumkum." The Superintendent of Police in Belagavi, Bheemashankar S Guled, said: "In April 2024, they forced the lady to perform namaz five times, wear a burqa band not wear kumkum."
Rafik allegedly threatened to expose the woman's intimate photos if she did not divorce her husband, convert to Islam, and live with them.
Based on the woman's complaints, an FIR was registered in Saundatti against seven individuals.
The accused face charges under various laws, including the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, relevant sections of the IT law, the SC/ST Act, and the Indian Penal Code, which cover offenses such as rape, kidnapping, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation.
Further investigation is underway.