Fadnavis Says Maharashtra To Bring Stricter Law Against Forced Or Fraudulent Religious Conversions

The Maharashtra government is preparing to introduce a law aimed at tackling religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, or inducement. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative council on Thursday that a decision on the matter would be taken soon, following the submission of recommendations by a police-led panel.

"Action can be taken under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in such cases. But a panel has been formed to suggest strict provisions. The state government has intentions to bring in strong provisions to deal with such cases, and we will take a decision on this soon," Fadnavis said, responding to a Calling Attention Motion in the council.

According to Fadnavis, a report has already been submitted by the committee led by the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), which was formed with the specific mandate of examining cases related to religious conversions taking place through force or fraudulent means. The government will now study this report in detail and assess the necessary legislative amendments that may be required based on its findings.

Earlier this week, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar said the government is working on a draft anti-conversion bill and plans to introduce it during the winter session of the legislature. “Maharashtra will bring an anti-conversion law in the winter session of the state legislature, and it will be more stringent than similar legislations in other states,” Bhoyar said.

Recent allegations from various BJP leaders have prompted the move. BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe raised concerns that people converting to Christianity continue to claim benefits under the Scheduled Castes (SC) category by not disclosing their religious change. He alleged that such individuals misuse constitutional protections meant for Dalits while professing other faiths.

“On the face of it, they belong to SC and avail reservation benefits like government jobs, use it during polls, but secretly follow a different religion,” he said.

Fadnavis, in response, referred to a Supreme Court ruling delivered on November 26, 2024, which clarified that SC category reservation benefits are legally available only to persons belonging to Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. “If anyone from religions other than Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs has availed an SC certificate or reservation, their validity certificate and caste certificate will be cancelled with due procedure. If anyone has availed benefits like government jobs, action will be taken against them,” the chief minister said.

He added that such action would extend to those who have contested elections using invalid caste certificates. “If anyone has contested elections using such a caste certificate, then it will be cancelled, and then their election will be declared null and void,” Fadnavis said.

The issue of religious conversion through deceit or coercion has gained renewed political momentum in the state, with BJP leaders citing incidents allegedly reported from tribal and rural areas. Pravin Darekar, another BJP leader, claimed that certain groups are running covert campaigns in slums and impoverished areas, allegedly targeting vulnerable individuals and luring them into changing their religion.

“Things are going out of hand,” he said, while alleging that entire settlements have been converted under such campaigns.

Fadnavis acknowledged the issue, stating that such activities have been reported from slums and backwards areas, but clarified that the state government does not intend to restrict religious freedom where conversions are voluntary. “Anyone can follow his religion and convert willingly. If they are forced, cheated or offered any kind of enticements, then the law does not permit it,” he said.

BJP MLC Chitra Wagh, who is now an independent member of the council, cited a specific case from Sangli district, where a woman allegedly died by suicide after being pressured to convert following her marriage. “There have been cases where women are cheated into marriage by hiding the spouse’s religion,” she said. “She cited a case in Sangli where a woman was married into a family that secretly professed the Christian religion. She also claimed that the woman suffered torture and was forced to change her religion, due to which the seven-month pregnant woman committed suicide.”

The upcoming legislation, according to state officials, is expected to draw from anti-conversion laws already enacted in other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, but with more stringent clauses. Officials say it may include mandatory prior declarations for conversions, penal provisions for misleading identity, and punishment for individuals or organisations found guilty of inducing conversion through marriage or monetary incentives.

State authorities are also investigating a case in Pune involving an orphanage run by a Christian group where minors were allegedly subjected to forced religious instruction and physical abuse. Bhoyar earlier confirmed that the Pune district administration has initiated legal proceedings and ordered a deeper probe. A woman officer has been appointed as the lead investigating officer.

As Maharashtra moves toward introducing a new law, the proposal has drawn criticism from some rights organisations and minority groups. Christian leaders in the state have warned that vaguely worded laws could be used to criminalise legitimate religious activity or voluntary conversions. They argue that existing laws already prohibit conversions by force or fraud, and any new provision must avoid infringing on the right to religious freedom guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution.

Despite the concerns, the Fadnavis-led government appears determined to push forward. Maharashtra is expected to become the eleventh state in India to enact an anti-conversion law if the bill is passed in the coming winter session.

(With inputs from PTI)