Hardoi Rape and Forced Conversion Case

In February 2025, a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh, India, was allegedly raped by her neighbor Raju, who also coerced her into converting to Islam. The perpetrator recorded the assault and threatened to release the video. Following the victim's complaint, Hardoi police registered a case under relevant sections for rape and under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The accused was arrested. The incident drew attention to the intersecting issues of sexual violence, caste discrimination, and forced religious conversion.

The accused was arrested and the case is under trial; no final verdict has been reported as of mid-2025.

Whether the sexual assault and forced conversion can be proven beyond reasonable doubt based on the recorded video evidence and witness testimony; the applicability of the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law; and the overlapping religious and caste dimensions, including allegations of targeting a Dalit woman for forced conversion.

The case intensified public debate on the misuse and enforcement of anti-conversion laws, the vulnerability of Dalit women to sexual violence, and communal tensions in Uttar Pradesh. Activists highlighted the need for stronger protections for marginalized women, while some political groups used the incident to further polarize discussions around religious conversions.