Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Minorities Commission Seeks Maharashtra Report On Padalkar Complaint
The National Commission for Minorities is looking into a complaint against Maharashtra MLA Gopichand Padalkar.
The complaint says he made a threatening comment about a Christian missionary at an event in Sangli.
It alleges that he offered ₹11 lakh to anyone who killed the missionary.
The Commission has not decided whether the allegation is true.
It says the Maharashtra Government did not answer earlier letters about the complaint.
The state has now been asked to send a report within 21 days.
A Commission member said the matter may receive a full hearing if Padalkar does not respond.
Separately, a court case about alleged speeches against Christians is being moved to the Bombay High Court’s main seat in Mumbai.
The National Commission for Minorities sought a report from the Maharashtra Government on a complaint against BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar.
The complaint alleges Padalkar offered an ₹11 lakh reward for killing a Christian missionary at a Sangli event on June 17, 2025.
The Commission said it received no response despite communications sent between July 2025 and July 2026.
The Maharashtra Government was given 21 days to submit its report for further consideration.
A separate petition concerning alleged hate speeches was permitted to be transferred from the Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur bench to Mumbai.
- Who
- The National Commission for Minorities, the Maharashtra Government, BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar, and complainant Cyril Samuel Dara are involved; a separate petition was filed by Melwyn Fernandes.
- What
- The Commission sought a state report on a complaint requesting an FIR against Padalkar over alleged remarks against Christians.
- When
- The alleged remarks were reportedly made on June 17, 2025; the Commission’s letter was dated September 1, 2026.
- Where
- The alleged remarks were made at a public event in Sangli, Maharashtra; the related court petition is being transferred to Mumbai.
- Why
- The Commission said it had received no response to repeated communications and wants the state’s report for further consideration.
Complainants and Commission
Padalkar and State Response
Alleged remarks
Complainants and Commission
The complaint alleges that Padalkar made hate speech against Christians and offered an ₹11 lakh reward for killing a Christian missionary.
Padalkar and State Response
Padalkar’s position is not reported because he did not respond to calls and messages; the Commission has not reached a conclusion on the allegations.
Government response
Complainants and Commission
The National Commission for Minorities says it received no response despite repeated communications over more than a year and has requested a report within 21 days.
Padalkar and State Response
The article does not provide the Maharashtra Government’s explanation for the lack of response.
Legal proceedings
Complainants and Commission
The complainant seeks registration of an FIR, while a separate petitioner argues that the public-interest litigation should be heard at the Bombay High Court’s principal seat in Mumbai.
Padalkar and State Response
The court only permitted the transfer request; the article does not report a final ruling on the alleged speeches.
- Commission
- National Commission for Minorities
- Accused official
- Gopichand Padalkar, BJP MLA
- Alleged incident
- A public event in Sangli on June 17, 2025
- Allegation
- An alleged ₹11 lakh reward for killing a Christian missionary involved in religious conversion
- Response deadline
- The Maharashtra Government was asked to submit a report within 21 days
- Earlier communications
- Letters or communications were sent on July 23 and October 3, 2025, and April 20 and July 29, 2026
- Court development
- A petition was permitted to move from the Bombay High Court’s Kolhapur bench to its principal seat in Mumbai