British preacher charged under Maharashtra anti‑conversion law
· India · The Independent, Indian Express, Outlook India
A 50‑year‑old British church leader, Pankaj Devnoor, was named in a criminal case in Pune under Maharashtra’s new Freedom of Religion Act 2026 after a group of Hindu men accused him of attempting to convert Hindus during a church anniversary celebration. Devnoor, who leads a Christian community in Manchester as part of the Anglican Episcopal Church International, travelled to Pune for the 141st anniversary of the local church and was warned by police on 7 August when the event was interrupted. The case was registered as one of the first under the anti‑conversion law, but the law had not yet entered force when the police filed the initial information report, so authorities may pursue him under other statutes such as immigration violations. Devnoor has not yet been arrested; he was granted bail on the condition that he remains in India, and his family in the United Kingdom says the allegations are baseless and is considering legal action against the police. The incident drew widespread m
Why it matters
The case illustrates how newly enacted anti‑conversion legislation may be applied to foreign religious figures, potentially affecting international religious workers and their families.
Read the original report — The Independent
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.