Rajasthan Registers First Case Against Christian Missionaries Under New Anti-Conversion Law

Rajasthan, Nov 22, 2025: The Rajasthan Police have registered the first case under the State’s newly enacted anti-conversion legislation against two Christian missionaries on 21 November in Kota, Rajasthan. The FIR alleges that the pastors conducted religious conversions through “allurement” during a three-day ‘Spiritual Satsang’ held at Beersheba Church in Kota from 4 to 6 November.

The first information report was filed late on Thursday, 20 November, following complaints from local office-bearers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. The police issued notices to the two pastors — Chandy Varghese from New Delhi and Arun John from Kota — and claimed they promoted conversion and baptised several people during the programme.

The two missionaries were booked under Section 299 (act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and Sections 3 and 5 of the Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2025. The FIR at Borkheda police station stated that the accused made offensive remarks about the Hindu community and described the Rajasthan government as the “devil’s kingdom”.

The police launched an investigation after obtaining videos and social media livestream clips purportedly showing the speeches and activities conducted during the event. Some youths allegedly announced from the stage that they had been baptised and had accepted Jesus Christ as their saviour, while urging others to adopt Christianity.

Police sources said on Friday, 21 November, that the social media footage would be examined and statements of those who attended the event would be recorded due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Pastor Arun John told 'The Hindu' from Kota that the police had asked him and Pastor Varghese to respond to the notices within three days. “We have nothing to hide [about the programme]… Its videos are already in the public domain. No illegal activity was carried out at the gathering,” he said.

The State Assembly passed the anti-conversion Bill during its monsoon session on 9 September, and the Home Department notified the law on 29 October. The legislation has drawn criticism for steep penalties, including life imprisonment, fines up to ₹1 crore, and confiscation and demolition of properties for carrying out conversions through fraud, allurement or coercion.

Those returning to their “ancestral religion” have been exempted from the law. Rajasthan is the latest Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled State to implement such a statute, with similar laws in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court issued notice to the State government on a petition filed by the Jaipur Catholic Welfare Society challenging the validity of the Act. The Society argued that the law was “constitutionally flawed”, contradicted Supreme Court judgments, and exceeded the State legislature’s authority.

By Fr. Praful Bara