On Friday (5th July), Bharatpur Police busted a religious conversion event taking place inside the house of an accused named Ravindra who runs an organisation in the name of the Church Foundation. According to reports, the accused couple was running the religious conversion center in Bharatpur claiming that attending the prayers would cure serious ailments of the attendees, including life-threatening diseases like cancer. Ruby (32), wife of Ravindra Kumar (39), had taken training in religious conversion exercise from Chandigarh (Punjab). These people used to connect others through WhatsApp groups.
Mathura Gate police station in-charge Karan Singh Rathod stated that on 5th July, there was a huge crowd in front of Ravindra’s house which is located at Gate number 39 near RIICO in Bharatpur city. There was a dispute going on over the issue of religious conversion. Given the situation, the Police detained 28 people.
On the report of a local resident Niranjan Singh, a case was registered under section 299 (doing an act malicious against any religion) and 302 (inducing someone to change religion through words) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). During the investigation, the police found the allegations leveled against Ravindra Kumar, Phool Singh, and Ravindra’s wife, Ruby, to be true.
Ravindra was arrested and then later, court released him on bail. Section 35(3)-(6) BNSS notice has been issued to Ruby and Phool Singh. The remaining people were granted bail on Friday on a surety bond of Rs 5,000 each.
Details mentioned in the FIR
In his complaint, Niranjan Singh stated that on 5th July at around 11 am, 3 people (Ravindra, Ruby, and Phool Singh) were preaching Christianity in a house near Railway Gate 39. They had organised a meeting on the pretext of treatment and curing diseases.
The accused were telling the attendees to give up idol worship of Gods and Goddesses and adopt Christianity. They alleged that Hindu Gods and Goddesses did not take any incarnation. Abusive words were spoken about Lord Krishna and the accused described the Hindu religion as the lowest. They also said that Jesus is the greatest God and if you serve them, you will get heaven.
During the meeting, they were creating hatred towards the Hindu religion. Those who came to the meeting regularly were lured with a bonus of Rs 10,000 and free treatment. There was talk of increasing the bonus for continuous attendance. The accused distributed free calendars, books, and pamphlets.
Niranjan Singh said that when the people of our organisation reached there, Ravindra said, “Run away from here, otherwise Jesus will incinerate you. Your Gods cannot stand before Jesus. All this happened in Changhai Sabha (a prayer meeting held in Christianity).”
Vishwa Hindu Parishad District President Lakhan Singh said that Ravindra Kumar is a resident of Ajaan village of Bharatpur. A religious conversion center has been running in Bharatpur for many years. Ravindra’s wife also supports him in this work. Ravindra’s wife took training in religious conversion in Chandigarh. After this, both of them started a religious conversion center in Ajan village. After that, Ravindra started going from village to village and telling people about Christianity.
Lakhan Singh added that earlier, the villagers assaulted Ravindra and Ruby and chased them away from Ajan village. Then Ravindra took a plot in Bharatpur. He stayed near the railway gate for 3 years and ran the centre.
Meanwhile, speaking with the media, several followers of the accused Ravindra claimed that they personally benefitted by attending the religious congregation. While some claimed that attending the Satsang of the Lord Jesus cured kidney stones, others believed that it cured their body ailments, cancer, impotency, and other diseases. Reportedly, the followers also claimed that their diseases were cured without any medicine.
Currently, the police are interrogating Ravindra, his wife, and his relative.
The ASI added that all the people present at the spot have been sent to their homes. He further stated that the self-styled Baba had been ordered to close his Darbar.
