Pune, 9th March 2026: Former Miss India Earth contestant Sayali Surve from Pimpri-Chinchwad has returned to Hinduism after separating from her husband, bringing the issue of alleged 'love jihad' back into public debate.
The development comes amid heightened discussions in Maharashtra after a recent Indapur incident, where a young woman’s reported abduction initially sparked controversy.
However, the case took a different turn when the woman released a video stating that she had voluntarily eloped and married a man of her choice.
Sayali Surve, who had participated in the Miss India Earth 2019 competition, had married Mira-Bhayander-based businessman Atif Tase in 2019 despite opposition from her family. After marriage, her name was changed to Ateza Tase.
Speaking to the media after returning to her original faith, Surve alleged that she faced continuous harassment after the marriage and was pressured to change her religion. She said she endured the situation mainly for the sake of her four children.
“After marriage, I faced mental harassment and was pressured to convert my religion. I stayed there for a long time only because of my four children,” she said.
Surve also claimed that she had approached the police several times to complain about the alleged harassment but did not receive the expected response.
She said that after coming in contact with some Hindu organisations, she decided to return to Hinduism with their support.
A traditional purification ceremony involving havan and Vedic rituals was conducted to formally welcome her back into the Hindu faith. Following the ceremony, she was renamed Adya Surve.
The event was attended by BJP MP Medha Kulkarni, MLA Uma Khapre and office-bearers of Bajrang Dal, according to organisers.
