Allahabad High Court Provides Interim Protection to Pilibhit Cleric in KGMU Doctor Investigation
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has granted significant interim relief to Pilibhit-based cleric Sayyed Zahid Hasan Rana, whose name emerged during a high-profile investigation conducted by Lucknow police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). This investigation centers around serious allegations involving doctors at the prestigious King George's Medical University (KGMU).
Court's Interim Order Prevents Coercive Action
In a crucial development, the court explicitly ruled that "no coercive action should be taken against the petitioner" following his legal challenge to a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued by a Lucknow magistrate in late January. This interim protection provides temporary legal shelter to the cleric while the judicial process continues.
Origins of the Case: Serious Allegations Against a Doctor
The complex case originated from a First Information Report (FIR) filed on December 23 by a 28-year-old female doctor against her male colleague. The complainant has made grave allegations, claiming that the accused doctor:
- Repeatedly raped her under the false pretext of marriage
- Forced her to undergo an unauthorized abortion
- Pressured her to convert to his faith
- Concealed his existing marriage to a 30-year-old woman from Agra
These shocking allegations created significant turmoil at King George's Medical University for several days, drawing attention from law enforcement and judicial authorities.
Cleric's Involvement and Legal Challenge
Rana's name surfaced during the investigation when UP Police discovered that he had solemnized the accused doctor's marriage to the 30-year-old Agra woman. Based on this connection, authorities obtained a non-bailable warrant against the cleric from the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Lucknow on January 27.
In response, Rana challenged this warrant in the High Court by filing a writ petition, leading to the current interim relief. His legal counsel, Shashank Singh, presented several key arguments in defense of his client.
Defense Arguments and Legal Proceedings
Shashank Singh, representing the cleric, argued forcefully that Rana was falsely implicated by UP Police and the STF. He emphasized that the cleric was not named in the original FIR and had no direct involvement in the alleged crimes.
Singh explained that the accused doctor's father had known Rana for nearly five decades, establishing a long-standing personal connection. The lawyer maintained that the petitioner's only involvement was solemnizing the marriage ceremony in the presence of the woman's parents and brother—a legitimate religious act that should not connect him to the subsequent alleged crimes committed by the accused.
Regarding the ongoing legal process, Singh confirmed that respondents have been granted four weeks to file a counter affidavit, with the next hearing scheduled after this period.
Court's Observations and Legal Framework
Passing the interim order on February 11, the divisional bench comprising Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Babita Rani made important observations. The bench noted that the petitioner did not apply any treacherous or wrongful practice in solemnizing the 'nikah' (Islamic marriage ceremony) and found no correlation between this act and the allegations in the FIR.
The court's detailed order became available on Wednesday evening, providing clarity on its reasoning. Meanwhile, the legal framework of the case remains substantial, with the accused doctor facing charges under multiple sections:
- BNS Section 69 (sexual intercourse by deceit, including false promise of marriage)
- BNS Section 89 (causing miscarriage without a woman's consent)
- BNS Section 351(1) (criminal intimidation)
- Sections 3 and 5(1) of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021
The accused doctor remains in jail as the investigation and legal proceedings continue to unfold, while the cleric has obtained temporary protection through the High Court's intervention.
