On 15 October 2025, in Beed, Maharashtra, Petrus Gaikwad, Superintendent of Beed District Jail, was accused of denying food and water to inmates, physically assaulting them, and allegedly pressuring them to convert to Christianity.
Following these allegations, the Maharashtra Prison Department transferred Gaikwad to Nagpur Central Prison as Deputy Superintendent on “administrative grounds.”
This report compiles nine major incidents between 2015 and 2025 in which government-aided officers or employees were accused of luring or pressuring economically disadvantaged individuals to adopt Christianity.
#1 Jail Superintendent Accused of Inmate Coercion (15 October 2025)
In Beed, Maharashtra, Petrus Gaikwad, the Superintendent of Beed District Jail, was accused of denying food and water to inmates, physically assaulting them, and pressuring them to convert to Christianity. A local MLA further alleged that Gaikwad replaced national symbols on jail walls with Bible verses. Following the allegations, the Maharashtra Prison Department transferred Gaikwad to Nagpur Central Prison as a Deputy Superintendent on “administrative grounds.” The officer had previously faced controversy in Jaigaon prison following the death of a Dalit inmate under his supervision.
#2 Dausa Church Prayer Meeting Sparks Clash (29 June 2025)
A prayer meeting at the Agaye Fellowship Church in Dausa, Rajasthan, led to a clash after allegations surfaced that it was aimed at converting around 100 Hindu attendees. The accused included two Rajasthan government officials—an Assistant Accounts Officer and a Block Development Officer, both named Verma—along with Pastor Thomas George. When activists arrived to protest, a heated argument escalated into a physical altercation inside the church. Local residents claimed the group had been systematically converting people for over a decade. Dausa police confirmed that the government officials would be questioned.
#3 Schoolgirls Taken for Prayers Without Consent (02 May 2025)
In Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, a government nurse named Bhavani, a pastor, and a van driver were accused of taking approximately 40 schoolgirls from a government school without parental consent. The children were transported to an illegal prayer hall where they were allegedly forced to kneel and participate in Christian prayers, being told that “Jesus is the only God.” Upon discovering the situation, parents confronted the accused, leading to a physical altercation. Although the children were returned and a complaint was lodged, the police had not registered an FIR at the time of reporting.
#4 Government Teacher Arrested for Conversion Meeting (16 March 2025)
In Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh, police raided a conversion meeting in Karsua Raja village, finding over 50 villagers in attendance. A government school teacher, Kamlesh Saket, and another individual, Arbind Saket, were accused of organizing the gathering and encouraging those present to convert to Christianity. The police intervention came after receiving a tip-off about the ongoing activities. Several Bibles and religious books were seized from the scene. Following the raid, the Mada police arrested both accused individuals.
#5 IPS Officer’s Religious Promotion Goes Viral (15 February 2025)
Kerala IPS officer Manoj Abraham, who serves as the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, faced scrutiny after his participation in a Christian event went viral on social media. Posts highlighted that the senior police official was promoting Christianity while holding a significant government post, suggesting a potential conflict of interest. The incident sparked debate online about the conduct of public servants and their engagement in religious promotion. No official action was reported in connection with the incident.
Kerala Christian Manoj Abraham is an IPS officer who is Director of the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau. He can be seen promoting Christianity. pic.twitter.com/6JrDZdlT1W
— Rakesh Krishnan Simha (@ByRakeshSimha) February 15, 2024
#6 ‘Negative Energy’ Prayer in Govt Office (11 November 2023)
Bindu, the District Child Development Officer in Thrissur, Kerala, organized a special one-minute prayer session before office hours to “remove negative energy.” The session allegedly forced staff, including contract employees, to participate, with one contract employee instructed to wear formal Christian attire. The office head stated the prayer was prompted by unusual office events, including employee resignations. The incident prompted higher authorities to order an inquiry, with the Deputy Collector instructed to investigate and submit a report to clarify the facts.
#7 Police Officer Proselytizes at Sikh Shrine (30 August 2023)
A Punjab Police officer was at the center of controversy after a video surfaced showing him performing what were described as Christian religious activities inside the Shri Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar. The video depicted the officer holding an elderly man’s stomach, placing a hand on his head, and instructing him to touch his feet, while also gesturing to two boys. The officer was accused of promoting Christianity and criticizing authorities for inaction on conversion. The officer later claimed the video was filmed at a different location. No disciplinary action was reported.
#8 SC Commission Chairman Accused of Encouraging Conversions (05 November 2022)
Victor Prasad, the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Scheduled Caste Commission, was accused of encouraging church planting and religious conversions. He was also alleged to have directed the Bapatla District SP to invoke the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act against those opposing an unauthorized church’s construction. Further accusations included derogatory social media posts about Mahatma Gandhi and instructing district authorities to install statues of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in defiance of court and government orders. No official action was reported against him.
#9 IAS Officer Warned Over Preaching Activities (30 January 2015)
The Tamil Nadu government issued a warning to IAS officer C. Umashankar, directing him to cease his “preaching and propagating activities” over concerns they could cause communal disharmony. The officer, who described himself as a “disciple of Jesus,” had conducted over 850 prayer meetings since 2008. While some groups accused him of attempted conversions, Umashankar denied these allegations, stating he only preached within Christian churches. The government’s instruction was based on the potential for his actions to incite communal tension.
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