The accused, Chandi Varghese from Delhi and Arun John from Kota, were detained following a complaint filed by officials of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.
JAIPUR — Although the Supreme Court has issued notice to Rajasthan government on a petition against the recently enacted anti-conversion law in the state, police in Kota have registered a case against two Christian missionaries for alleged religious conversion.
Police in Kota has registered the first case under the newly enacted legislation against the two, accusing them of carrying out religious conversions through “allurement” at a gathering. The three-day ‘Spiritual Satsang’ was held at Beersheba Church in Kota from November 4 to 6.
The accused, Chandi Varghese from Delhi and Arun John from Kota, were detained following a complaint filed by officials of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.
Kota’s Borkheda Police Station Officer Devesh Bhardwaj was quoted by media reports as saying on Friday that the complaint alleged that the missionaries had invited people to the Beersheba Church on Canal Road between November 4 and 6, under the pretext of a spiritual discourse, and allegedly converted them. “Some videos and other evidence were also presented, and the event was broadcast live on social media,” he said.
The FIR also stated that the accused had made offensive remarks about the Hindu community and described the Rajasthan government as the “devil’s kingdom”.
The case has been registered under Section 299 of the BNS for hurting religious sentiments, and under Sections 3 and 5 of the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2025.
Police sources said on Friday (November 21) that the social media footage would be examined and the statements of those who attended the event would be recorded in view of the sensitivity of the matter, as part of the probe.
