New Delhi, August 11, 2026

Pune Police have registered an FIR against a UK-based Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, accusing him of attempting to persuade people to adopt Christianity during a religious gathering. The case is significant as it has been filed under Maharashtra’s newly enforced Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, making it one of the first cases under the legislation. The accused, who lives in Manchester, has also been booked under relevant provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, police said on Monday, August 10.

The FIR was registered at Khadak police station after the accused attended a religious programme at a Marathi church in Guruwar Peth and addressed the gathering. According to the preliminary inquiry, he allegedly referred to Hindu religious traditions using words such as “kirtan”, “Sant” and “Mauli” while speaking about following the path of devotion to Jesus. Police alleged that he made remarks that could create misconceptions about Hindu temples and deities and claimed that the statements were made to mislead people and encourage them to embrace Christianity. Investigators also alleged that he claimed diseases could be cured and rainfall could occur by invoking the name of Jesus, which police said was intended to attract Hindus and followers of other religions towards Christianity.

A Khadak police station official said OCI cardholders are permitted to attend prayer meetings and participate in religious programmes. However, they are not allowed to preach, conduct kirtans or deliver religious discourses without obtaining the necessary permission. “We have booked the person and further probe is on,” the officer said. The case was registered just days after Pune Police filed the first FIR under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, on August 5. That case involved a 22-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh who was accused of asking a minor girl, with whom he was in a relationship, to change her religion. Police also invoked the POCSO Act because the girl was a minor. The accused was booked under Sections 3 and 9(2) of the new law and was arrested before being remanded to judicial custody.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, was notified on July 31 and came into effect on August 1. Section 3 prohibits conversion, attempted conversion and aiding or abetting conversion through coercion, fraud, allurement, misrepresentation, force, threats or undue influence. Under Section 9(2), an offence involving a minor can attract imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. The law also lays down a procedure for voluntary religious conversion, requiring a person intending to change religion to submit a declaration to the District Magistrate or designated authority at least 60 days before the proposed conversion. Religious institutions conducting conversion ceremonies must also provide prior notice. With enhanced punishment for cases involving minors, women, members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and persons of unsound mind, the legislation has introduced a detailed legal framework governing religious conversion in Maharashtra. The latest Pune FIR will now be subject to further police investigation under these provisions.