The Allahabad High Court has set at liberty Ayush Malik, 31, after he told the court that he had voluntarily embraced Islam in 2014 and alleged that his father subsequently subjected him to threats and unlawful confinement.
A bench of Justice Sandeep Jain, while hearing a habeas corpus petition, held that an adult is entitled to determine his faith according to his own conscience and that such a choice cannot be displaced merely because it is not acceptable to family members.The petition was filed by Malik’s friend, who alleged that Malik was being illegally detained by his father, Devraj Singh Malik, with the assistance of state authorities. On Sep. 9, the court directed state authorities and Malik’s father to produce him before it.
When produced before the court, Malik stated that he had embraced Islam of his own free will and without any coercion, threat, undue influence, or inducement. He also stated his intention to marry Chandni Qureshi. He alleged he had been kept under house arrest from June 4, 2026.Malik’s father told the court that his son had been influenced or brainwashed and had not voluntarily embraced Islam.
After interacting with both men, the court found no material to doubt the voluntariness of Malik’s choices. It observed that his categorical statement before the court confirmed he had embraced Islam freely, with nothing on record to suggest otherwise.