Hadiya's father K M Ashokan on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court directive to present his daughter at an open-court hearing in the "love jihad" case.
Ashokan, however, denied allegations that his 24-year-old daughter was being "detained" at home in Vaikom, Kottayam district.
Speaking to reporters, Ashokan said the apex court directive was not a setback and he was ready to accept the court's decision on the matter.
"It doesn't mean that it's the final day of the case. I'll present my daughter; the court will hear her, me and the NIA. The cases don't end there," he said.
Ashokan had earlier submitted in the apex court that his daughter was "misled and misguided" to embrace Islam.
He has maintained that Shafin Jahan – whose marriage with Hadiya was annulled by the Kerala High Court in May – has links with radical outfits.
Ashokan dismissed reports that Hadiya was virtually being imprisoned at her home and was being denied her rights.
"I'm surrounded by policemen here. She has two policewomen guarding her. She can go anywhere with police protection. What can we do if she refuses? She's not a child, we can't force her," Ashokan said, referring to the security arrangements in place at his home.
Activists and Muslim leaders had raised concern over reports and sought intervention by the CPM-led state government.
Ashokan said he did not have issues with his daughter following any religion but was concerned about people involved in what he believed was forced religious conversion of his daughter.
"This group is not right, they have links with terror outfits," Ashokan said.
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