Mumbai's First FIR Under Maharashtra Freedom Of Religion Act 2026: Mother Alleges Daughter Was Pressured To Convert For Marriage

Mumbai witnessed its inaugural filing of a First Information Report (FIR) under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 on November 7, 2026, following an alleged case of religious conversion through coercion. The complainant, Nilesha Rane, a 50-year-old domestic helper residing in Goregaon, accused Faiz Akbar Khan, a resident of Jogeshwari East, of pressuring her 22-year-old daughter, Shravani, into converting her religion in exchange for marriage and financial assistance for her makeup business.

Rane's daughter, Shravani, had completed a beauty parlour course in 2023 and earned income by undertaking bridal makeup assignments. Shravani's mother relocated from Jogeshwari East to Virar along with her son in May 2026, while Shravani continued her assignments in Mumbai. On October 18, Shravani failed to return home after promising her mother she had a bridal makeup assignment. Subsequently, she registered a missing complaint with Virar police, which led to the filing of a missing complaint case.

On October 20, Shravani shared a marriage certificate via WhatsApp, announcing her marriage to Faiz at a Bandra court. The police later confirmed that Shravani had willingly married Faiz, producing the certificate upon interrogation. Four days later, on October 24, Faiz sent Shravani a WhatsApp wedding invitation under the new name, Aayesha. According to the complainant, subsequent to this, they married in Jogeshwari East on November 6, 2026.

Rane alleged that Faiz had converted his daughter's religion through deception, coercion, and manipulation, thereby precipitating the filing of the first FIR under the recently enacted Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 in Mumbai. The police transferred the case to the Meghwadi police station, transferring it from Virar police jurisdiction.