What happened

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited the residence of Birju Keot, described as a TMC worker. Birju Keot was reported to have died in police custody on August 8, and Suvendu Adhikari stated that police negligence in the custodial death incident was “clear as daylight.”

The news brief also mentions an Allahabad High Court direction. The Allahabad High Court reportedly ordered the release of two adult Hindu women who said they had voluntarily converted to Islam. The reported High Court reasoning is that the women’s father had unlawfully confined them because of their religious choices.

Background and earlier position

Police custody creates a heightened duty of care for detainees. In cases of custodial death, accountability questions focus on whether police conduct met expected safeguards and whether the State provided proper protection and care to the person in custody.

In religious conversion disputes, courts often examine voluntariness (free choice) versus coercion (pressure). When a dispute also involves alleged confinement or restraint, courts examine whether the confinement was unlawful and whether it was connected to the individual’s religious choice.

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