Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest 2 men, including US national, for trying to convert people by offering financial assistance

Indian Express

a day ago

The Pimpri Chinchwad police said Monday they have arrested two men, including an American national, and apprehended a minor boy for allegedly trying to convert people to Christianity by offering financial assistance.
The police identified the arrested US national as Schaefer Javin Jacob, 41, a resident of California, who lives in an apartment near Mukai Chowk in Pimpri Chinchwad. The police said they have also arrested Steven Vijay Kadam, 46, a resident of Raisoni society in Pimpri, and handed over the minor, a 16-year-old boy, to his mother.
Pimpri resident Sunny Dhanani, 27, who belongs to the Sindhi community, lodged the First Information Report (FIR) in this case at the Pimpri Police Station Sunday night.
The police have booked them under sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They have also invoked sections 14 (b) and (c) of the Foreigners Act against the American national in this case.
As per the FIR, the accused allegedly approached Dhanani at his residence in Pimpri at around 11.30 am Sunday. They allegedly told Dhanani that he would get 'happiness, peace, wealth, and good mental health' if he embraced Christianity.
They also allegedly claimed that Jesus Christ is the only God, while other Gods are just stories, the FIR stated. It added that the accused allegedly offered financial assistance to the complainant if he accepted Christianity.
Dhanani then approached the police and filed a complaint against the accused for allegedly hurting his religious sentiments.
Ashok Kadlag, Senior Police Inspector, said further investigation is underway.
Kadlag said the probe so far shows that the American citizen has been coming to India since 2016 on tourist and business visas. 'But he was not found doing any business activity here,' said Kadlag.