British national booked in Pune under Maharashtra’s anti-conversion law, made misleading claims about Hindu deities while promoting ‘devotion to Jesus’
· OpIndia
Pune Police have registered an FIR against a UK-based Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder for attempting to induce people to embrace Christianity during a religious gathering, in one of the first cases registered under Maharashtra’s new Freedom of Religion Act.
The accused, a resident of Manchester, has been booked under relevant provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and the newly enacted Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, a Pune Police official said on Monday, 10th August.
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The case was registered at Khadak police station after the accused attended a religious programme at a Marathi church in Guruwar Peth and addressed devotees.
According to the preliminary investigation, the accused used terms associated with Hindu religious traditions, including “kirtan”, “Sant” and “Mauli”, while speaking at the gathering. Police alleged that he spoke about following the path of devotion to Jesus and made statements that created misconceptions about Hindu temples and deities.
Police said the statements were made with the intention of misleading people and inducing them to embrace Christianity.
UK national made claims that illnesses could be cured by invoking the name of Jesus
According to the police, the accused made claims that illnesses could be cured and rainfall could occur by invoking the name of Jesus. Investigators have said that such statements were intended to attract Hindus and people belonging to other faiths towards Christianity.
A Khadak police station official said that OCI cardholders are permitted to attend prayer meetings and participate in religious functions. However, they cannot preach, conduct kirtans or deliver religious discourses without obtaining the requisite permission.
“We have booked the person and further probe is on,” the officer said.
First FIR under Maharashtra’s new Freedom of Religion Act
The UK national’s case comes days after Pune Police registered the first FIR under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026.
The first case was registered on 5th August against a 22-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh who was accused of asking a minor girl, with whom he was in a relationship, to convert from her religion. The case was also registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act because the girl is a minor.
According to police, the accused and the girl were from the same village in Uttar Pradesh and had later moved to Karnataka and then Pune. The accused was booked under Sections 3 and 9(2) of the new law and was arrested before being remanded to judicial custody.
Section 3 prohibits conversion, attempted conversion, or aiding and abetting conversion through means including coercion, fraud, allurement, misrepresentation, force, threat or undue influence. Section 9(2) provides for imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh when an offence under Section 3 involves a minor.
What is Maharashtra’s Freedom of Religion Act?
The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, was notified on 31st July and came into force on 1st August.
The legislation defines unlawful conversion to include conversion through allurement, coercion, deceit, force, misrepresentation, threat, undue influence or other fraudulent means. It also includes certain forms of alleged brainwashing through education among the methods that can constitute unlawful conversion.
“Allurement” has been defined broadly and can include money, gifts, material benefits, employment, free education, promises of marriage, a better lifestyle or claims of divine healing.
The law also provides a procedure for people who voluntarily wish to change their religion. A person intending to convert has to submit a declaration to the District Magistrate or designated authority at least 60 days before the proposed conversion. Religious institutions conducting conversion ceremonies are also required to provide prior notice.
The legislation provides enhanced punishment where alleged unlawful conversion involves minors, women, members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and persons of unsound mind.
It also contains provisions relating to marriages conducted for unlawful conversion and provides for assistance and rehabilitation for victims.