Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Pune Police Register First Cases Under Maharashtra's Anti-Conversion Law
Maharashtra, a state in India, made a new law to stop people from forcing or tricking others into changing their religion.
The law, called the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, started on August 1, 2026.
Recently, police in the city of Pune used this law for the very first time.
They registered two cases in August.
In the first case, a 22-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh was arrested.
Police said he tried to convince a missing minor girl to change her religion.
He was also charged under a special law that protects children.
The second case involves a man who lives in the United Kingdom and has special Indian status.
Police said he tried to get people to become Christian at gatherings without the needed permission.
Both cases are still being investigated.
Pune police registered the first two cases under Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law, which took effect on August 1, 2026.
The first FIR, filed August 5 at Phursungi police station, names a 22-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh accused of trying to persuade a missing minor girl to convert.
The man was booked under Sections 3 and 9(2) of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act along with the POCSO Act and is in judicial custody.
The second FIR, filed August 9 at Khadak police station, names a UK-based OCI cardholder from Manchester accused of inducing people to embrace Christianity at religious gatherings.
Police said OCI cardholders may attend prayer meetings but cannot preach or deliver religious discourses without permission; the man was also booked under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
- Who
- Pune Police, with Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Prashant Amrutkar confirming the cases; the accused are a 22-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh and a UK-based OCI cardholder from Manchester.
- What
- The first two cases registered under Maharashtra's new anti-conversion law, the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026.
- When
- The law came into force on August 1, 2026; the first FIR was registered on August 5 and the second on August 9, 2026.
- Where
- Pune, Maharashtra, at Phursungi and Khadak police stations.
- Why
- Alleged attempts to convert people—a minor girl and attendees of religious gatherings—through inducement and influence, which the new Act prohibits.
- Law
- Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026
- Law in force
- August 1, 2026 (notified July 31)
- First case FIR
- August 5, 2026, at Phursungi police station
- Second case FIR
- August 9, 2026, at Khadak police station
- Total cases
- 2
- First accused
- 22-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh; charged under Sections 3 and 9(2) of the Act and POCSO Act; arrested and in judicial custody
- Second accused
- UK-based OCI cardholder from Manchester; also booked under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
- Confirmed by
- DCP (Special Branch) Prashant Amrutkar