Under pressure to ‘convert’,husband files petition seeking wife’s return

Tiwari said he was ready to convert to Islam but he did not have the money to pay to his wife’s family.

The petitioner said he fell in love with Sabeena Langoo,22,in Pune where he had gone to study MBA. Sabeena’s father had a business in the neighbourhood,he said.

The duo fell in love and wanted to get married but Tiwari faced opposition from Sabeena’s family. Her parents took her to a place in Kashmir and wanted to get her married to someone else. But Sabeena escaped and returned to Mumbai where she tied the knot with Tiwari in October last year.

As Sabeena’s parents pressurised her to return to her family home,she filed a petition two months back in the High Court asking for protection from her family.

The court granted her relief while directing the couple to report to Chandivali police station regularly to inform about her whereabouts.

In November last,Sabeena’s sister and brother visited their house in Chandivali and insisted on taking her home as their father was not well. Instead of taking her home,they took her to their native place in Kashmir where they confined her.

Sabeena’s parents then faxed a message to the petitioner saying he would have to convert to Islam and pay Rs five lakh if he wanted her back. They also insisted on Tiwari’s parents coming to Kashmir with the money.

Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Mridula Bhatkar have adjourned the hearing of the case for four weeks.