India: Karnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against Muslims Preaching Islam in Hindu Temple

India: Karnataka High Court Quashes FIR Against Muslims Preaching Islam in Hindu Temple
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The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR against three Muslim men accused of preaching Islam and distributing pamphlets inside the Ramatheerth Temple in Jamkhandi, local sources reported. The court ruled that no offence was committed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, or the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act (KPRFR), 2022, as there was no direct attempt at religious conversion.

The FIR alleged that on May 4, 2025, the men distributed Islamic literature and made derogatory remarks about Hinduism, offering incentives to convert. However, the court found the complainant lacked legal standing since only the person converted or their close relatives can file complaints under the KPRFR Act. The court also noted the absence of coercion or inducement required to prove an offence.