In a significant crackdown in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, the police have arrested three individuals involved in an alleged illegal religious conversion racket. Among the arrested is James Watson, a 58-year-old American citizen residing in Thane, along with two local residents, Sainath Ganpati Sarpe (42) of Vasai and Manoj Govind Kolha (35) of Bhuishet, Chimbipada village.

According to police, James Watson, who entered India on a business visa, was organizing unauthorized religious events in the Bhuishet area without necessary administrative permissions. These gatherings involved preaching Christianity and encouraging locals to convert by denigrating Hinduism as superstition and asserting that happiness and prosperity come from embracing Christianity.

A complaint filed by local resident Ravindra Bhurkut stated that the accused were claiming that Jesus Christ's prayers could cure illnesses. They allegedly asked whether any minor girls in the village were unwell, recorded their names, and purportedly used prayers on their foreheads, claiming to heal them with divine power.

The Bhiwandi police have registered a case against the three under Sections 299 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), the Foreigners Act (for visa misuse), and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.

Police inspector Harshvardhan Barve confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and legal action is being pursued. Authorities emphasized that Watson misused his business visa for religious conversions.

This arrest highlights the state's vigilance against illegal religious conversion activities, especially those aimed at vulnerable rural populations, and marks a significant step in addressing such unlawful practices.

This news follows growing concerns over conversion rackets in Maharashtra and other parts of India, with authorities cracking down on similar incidents in recent months.### US Citizen James Watson Arrested in Maharashtra for Illegal Religious Conversion Racket

In a major development, Bhiwandi police have arrested three individuals including a US citizen, James Watson, suspected of running an illegal religious conversion racket in the region. Watson, along with locals Sainath Ganpati Sarpe and Manoj Govind Kolha, was conducting unauthorized Christian prayer meetings in the Bhuishet area of Bhiwandi taluka without administrative permission.

According to police reports, during the gatherings, they allegedly preached Christianity to about 30-35 villagers and urged them to convert by claiming that Hinduism is based on superstition and that true happiness and prosperity come from embracing Christianity. The accused also purportedly claimed that illnesses could be healed through prayers to Jesus Christ and noted down names of four minor girls, upon whom they placed their hands, claiming divine healing powers.

Watson, who holds a business visa for India, is accused of misusing it to engage in religious activities, which led to his arrest along with the two locals. The police have registered a case under sections 299 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code (malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), the Foreigners Act (visa misuse), and Maharashtra's Anti-Black Magic Act of 2013.

Inspector Harshvardhan Barve stated that the investigation is ongoing and measures are being taken against the accused. This arrest is part of a crackdown on illegal religious conversion activities in Maharashtra, aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from coercive conversion practices.