Chennai: After hearing a habeas corpus petition moved by the girl’s mother during which it heard the woman, S Kannika, and her daughter S Sivapragathi through video conferencing, a division bench comprising Justice K Kalayanasundaram and Justice T Krishnavalli said noted that the latter stated that she had converted to Islam and was residing in an orphanage at Tiruchy and that she did not know Shahul Hameed who faced the allegation of converting her.

“In the light of the statement made by the detenue, this court is of the opinion that nothing survives for consideration in this habeas corpus petition and accordingly, the same stands dismissed. However, liberty is given to the petitioner to work out her remedy in the manner known to law,” the bench said.

Kannika had moved the petition seeking to direct the Tiruchy police to produce her daughter Sivapragathi before the court and set her at liberty. Her counsel had contended that after completing her engineering graduation, the young woman was working in a panchayat office as a temporary worker for some time. At that time, she had acquaintance with Shahul Hameed (50), who brain-washed her to convert into Islam, she alleged.

There was no other possibility for Sivapragathi to convert herself without the influence of Shahul Hameed, he argued.

However, the counsel appearing for Shahul Hameed submitted that he had nothing to do with the girl, and that the entire allegation raised by her mother was false. He also submitted that the mother was holding her original certificates and hence a complaint was lodged with the Tiruchy police and an inquiry was also conducted.