‘I suffered a lot mentally’: Karnataka man accuses wife’s family of forcing him to convert to Islam post marriage

A formal complaint was lodged at the Town police station on Wednesday.

Vishalkumar, a resident of Gandhinagar settlement area, stated in his complaint that he had been in a relationship with Tahashin of Kurahatti Pete for three years, Times of India reported.

He said he had kept the relationship secret from his parents, fearing their disapproval due to the interfaith nature of the bond.

However, Tahashin disclosed the relationship to her mother.

The couple registered their marriage on November 26, 2024.

After the registration, Vishalkumar said Tahashin’s family demanded that he marry her again according to Islamic tradition, according to the report.

He agreed, hoping for a peaceful life together.

The ceremony took place at a mosque in Gadag on April 25, 2025.

“Later, they forced him to embrace Islam, but he did not heed them,” the complaint stated, according to the TOI report

Vishalkumar added that once videos of the mosque wedding circulated on social media, his own family insisted on solemnising the marriage again as per Hindu tradition.

The ceremony was scheduled and held in front of his house on June 5, 2025.

According to him, Tahashin initially agreed to the second ceremony as per Hindu rituals.

However, after facing pressure from her family, she refused to participate, and her relatives also objected.

“In his complaint, he also alleged that Tahashin's family put pressure on him to convert to Islam. Later, he came to know their intention behind his marriage at the mosque and consistently refused their conversion demands,” the report said, according to the TOI report.

“As I suffered a lot mentally, I am filing this complaint against my wife, her mother, and others for forcing me to embrace Islam, seeking justice,” Vishalkumar said.

Gadag Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadeesh told The Times of India that both individuals had been in a relationship for three years and got married under the Special Marriage Act in November 2024.

“They were living happily. However, now Vishalkumar filed a complaint alleging that Tahashin's family is forcing and harassing him to convert to Islam. Based on his complaint, we will investigate the matter thoroughly to uncover additional details,” he said.