Rajkot: The Rapar police in Kutch arrested a cleric of the Ajmer dargah for his alleged involvement in the officiating marriage of a minor girl with a 27-year-old man from the town last year and converting her to Islam.While the incident took place last year, it came to light on June 12 when the girl’s family lodged a complaint at the Rapar police station, alleging that the 27-year-old accused had abducted her on the pretext of marriage and established physical relations several times. He took her to Ajmer, where the now-arrested cleric officiated the nikah.On June 13, a day after the complaint was lodged, the Rapar police arrested the accused. The cops then began a hunt for the Ajmer cleric, who was apprehended on June 15.“Investigation revealed that Rapar man took the minor to the dargah in Ajmer. On July 21, 2025, a cleric there unlawfully converted the girl to Islam and officiated their marriage,” said Sagar Bagmar, superintendent of police, Kachchh East.The police recovered the cleric’s register in which he recorded the details of the marriage and showed the girl’s age as 21, despite her being a minor. The document also quoted the girl as saying that she was willingly changing her religion.The police have invoked a series of severe charges against the accused. The initial FIR was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 64(2)(i)(m) — aggravated rape, including rape of a minor — 137(2) (kidnapping a minor), Section 87 (sexual intercourse where consent is legally invalid) and others. Sections of POCSO were also invoked.The police also added sections of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act, 2021.
