Bhaskar earlier told this correspondent that the woman’s father had made him undergo circumcision as a precondition to their marriage. He said the surgical procedure caused him great pain and trauma.

Bhaskar shared with this correspondent an audio recording of a conversation between him and Nikhath’s father from last year. The father was heard telling Bhaskar that he would accept him as his son-in-law if he undergoes ‘khatna’.

“Ohh sachchi uncle? Allah kasam bolo uncle. Thank you uncle [Oh, really uncle? Swear in Allah’s name it’s true. Thank you uncle],” a thrilled Bhaskar had replied.

Bhaskar also told this correspondent that his girlfriend too had asked him to convert so she could broach the subject of their relationship with her family.

“I really don’t understand what has happened. We have known each other for 11 years. We both wanted to marry. I did whatever she and her family asked me to do. I converted. I underwent circumcision. I have been practising the Muslim way of life for more than six months now. I have stopped going to the church,” Bhaskar told this correspondent after the hearing.

The news channels also spoke to Nikhath outside the commission’s office. She told the channels that she did not believe in religious conversion.

“What is this religious conversion? One must have belief in the heart. Religion is a sacred thing. Why did he convert for me? I never asked him to,” she said (translated from Telugu).

“He [Bhaskar] lured my father, who has a drinking problem, into agreeing for our marriage. I don’t love him. I am focused on my studies,” she said.

Bhaskar earlier told this correspondent that in the past six months, he has lost a significant amount of money. “First, I paid for my circumcision, which cost me several thousands. And now, I have sold off my motorcycle to hire a lawyer for the hearing,” he said.