A legal complaint has been filed against two prominent Hindi newspapers, Dainik Bhaskar and Nav Dunia, for “defaming an entire community by linking the term ‘Love Jihad’ with a crime in their recent news reports.” The plaintiff, Maroof Ahmad Khan, is seeking legal action against the media outlets for damaging social harmony and spreading false information.
In his plea, Khan says that the newspapers are using sensationalist language, including terms like “Love Jihad,” which have no legal basis and no official recognition. “The media outlets have irresponsibly linked a criminal case to a specific community and are spreading false and provocative narratives, which could disrupt the peace of the state,” said Khan, who calls himself a “patriotic citizen working for the unity and integrity of the country”.
According to Khan, the newspapers have been using terms such as “Love Jihad” to describe incidents involving criminal cases without considering the legal implications. He said that “Love Jihad” is not a recognized crime under Indian law, and no agency, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has classified it as a criminal act. “By misusing this term, they are attempting to divide communities and incite hatred,” Khan argued.
The controversy erupted following the publication of two articles—one by Nav Dunia on April 26, 2025, which referred to “Second gang of Muslim youths,” and another by Dainik Bhaskar on April 26, 2025, which linked a criminal case to the so-called “Kerala story pattern of Love Jihad.” Khan stated that these headlines were not only misleading but also harmful to the social fabric of the country, as they unfairly singled out individuals based on their religion.
“These headlines imply guilt based solely on religion, even before the completion of an investigation or a verdict from a court,” Khan said. “This is a direct violation of journalistic ethics, as the accused has not been proven guilty.”
The plaintiff’s legal representative, Deepak Bundele, expressed concern over the use of the term “Love Jihad,” stressing that it has no legal foundation. “The term ‘Love Jihad’ is not mentioned in the Quran, and there is no legal or religious basis for using it in the context of a criminal investigation,” Bundele explained. “It is being used to target the Muslim community, creating unnecessary divisions between Hindus and Muslims.”
Bundele also pointed out that there is no legal definition of “Love Jihad” in Indian law. “If ‘Love Jihad’ were a crime, it would have been recognized by India’s legal system, but it has not been,” he said. “No law or court in the country has ever defined ‘Jihad’ as a criminal act in the context these newspapers are using it.”
Khan said that such misleading reporting undermines the principles of secularism and justice. “The Quran speaks of Jihad as a struggle for justice, peace, and protection against oppression,” Khan stated. “But the newspapers have twisted this to suit their agenda, misleading the public and trying to incite communal hatred.”
“The goal is not just to hold these newspapers accountable but to send a message that such divisive and misleading reporting will not be tolerated in a secular and diverse country like India,” Khan concluded.
