
Two, including US national, held for trying to convert people by offering financial help
Sachin Hire, assistant commissioner of the Pimpri Chinchwad police, said the US national, Schaefer Javin Jacob of California, currently residing at Mukai Chowk in Kiwale, and Steven Kadam (46) of Ajmera Pimpri were charged under sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The US national was also booked under the relevant sections of the Foreigners Act for violating visa norms. "We also detained a 16-year-old boy with the duo and handed him over to his mother," Hire said.
Inspector Vijayanand Patil of the Pimpri police said the trio on Sunday morning went to the complainant's house and told him that he would get "happiness, peace, wealth, and good mental health" if he converted from his religion.
"They also assured him of financial assistance in future after his conversion," Patil said.
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The officer said the complainant, a resident (27) of Pimpri, immediately alerted the Pimpri Chinchwad police. "To avoid any untoward incident, our team reached Ajmera in Pimpri and took the trio into custody. We informed their minor accomplice's mother and handed him over to her," he said.
Patil said the investigations revealed that the US national Jacob came to India on a business visa.
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He extended his visa on July 5.
"Jacob has been visiting the country since 2016 on business and tourist visas. He claimed that he came to India for business purposes. We, however, did not find him doing any business here. Our investigations are on," Patil said.
The officer said the Ajmera resident Kadam works in a private company. "Jacob and Kadam met during a prayer session. They have been remanded in police custody for two days," he said.

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