The Supreme Court today has granted leave and directed a full hearing in a plea seeking quashing of criminal proceedings against social worker Ajai Lall, while continuing its earlier interim order staying the trial and restraining coercive action against him.

The case arises from a plea seeking the quashing of criminal proceedings against Ajai Lall, a social worker from Madhya Pradesh, who faces allegations of forced religious conversion, child trafficking, and irregularities in adoption processes.

A Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was informed by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the State of Madhya Pradesh, that further investigation in the matter was ongoing. The State alleged that there were “systematic attempts” to convert minor children to Christianity and pointed to a pattern of incidents involving a hostel where the petitioner was part of the governing body.

Explaining the alleged modus operandi, the ASG submitted that false documents were used in adoption processes, citing an instance where a person purportedly misrepresented his religious identity to adopt a minor girl and later returned her.

The Court, however, questioned the continuation of the investigation in light of its earlier order dated February 2, which had stayed the trial proceedings and directed that no coercive steps be taken against the petitioner.

While the ASG submitted that the investigation was still in progress, the Court noted that the matter required detailed consideration.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court granted leave and directed that the matter be listed for a full hearing. It also clarified that the interim order passed earlier, staying trial proceedings and restraining coercive action against the petitioner, will continue.