3 weeks ago
Maharashtra books British OCI cardholder under new anti-conversion law
A man who lives in England got into trouble with the police in India.
He has a special card called an OCI card that lets him visit and live in India.
The police say he was telling people at a church to change their religion to Christianity.
He used words from another religion, like kirtan and Sant, while he was speaking.
The police say he also told people that saying the name of Jesus could cure sickness and make rain fall.
They say he made statements that created wrong ideas about Hindu temples and deities.
The police said people with an OCI card can go to prayer meetings, but they cannot preach without special permission.
So the police made a formal case, called an FIR, against him under new laws in Maharashtra.
The police are still investigating what happened.
Pune Police registered an FIR against a UK-based OCI cardholder for allegedly attempting to induce people to embrace Christianity.
The accused, a Manchester resident, was booked under the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 and the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026.
The alleged incident took place at a religious programme at a Marathi church in Guruwar Peth, Pune.
Police said he used Hindu religious terms like kirtan, Sant and Mauli while telling devotees about the path of devotion to Jesus.
Authorities said OCI cardholders may attend prayer meetings but cannot preach, conduct kirtans or deliver religious discourses without permission; the probe is ongoing.
- Who
- A UK-based Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder and Manchester resident, not named in the article.
- What
- An FIR was registered against him for allegedly using religious gatherings to induce people to embrace Christianity and for making statements about Hindu temples and deities.
- Where
- Pune, Maharashtra, India — at a Marathi church in Guruwar Peth.
- When
- The FIR was reported on Monday, August 10; the religious programme took place recently.
- Why
- Because he allegedly preached and made conversion-related claims without the permission required of OCI cardholders, violating the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 and the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026.
Key facts
- Accused
- UK-based OCI cardholder, resident of Manchester (not named)
- Police station
- Khadak police station, Pune
- Laws invoked
- Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025; Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026
- Incident location
- Marathi church, Guruwar Peth, Pune
- Allegations
- Inducing conversion to Christianity; claims that invoking Jesus' name cures illness and brings rainfall
- OCI rules cited
- May attend prayer meetings and functions, but cannot preach, conduct kirtans or give religious discourses without permission
- Status
- Investigation ongoing
- Report date
- August 10 (Monday)
Quotes
Pune Police official
Official from Khadak police station
“The accused allegedly spoke about following the path of devotion to Jesus and made statements that created misconceptions about Hindu temples and deities, with the purported intention of misleading people and inducing them to embrace Christianity.”
firstpost.com
“However, they cannot preach, conduct kirtans or deliver religious discourses without obtaining the requisite permission.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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