Fraud of Faith: Fake Miracle Cures Trigger Nationwide Crackdown on Coercive Conversions

 

Bharat has witnessed a silent yet systematic rise in religious conversion activities orchestrated by evangelical Christian groups. These groups, backed by foreign funding and missionary networks, have increasingly targeted rural and tribal belts, regions marked by poverty, illiteracy, and social vulnerability. Their operations have not only disrupted local social harmony but have also challenged the constitutional spirit of religious freedom, which guarantees every citizen the right to practise one’s faith without coercion, deception, or inducement.

 

In recent years, so called “faith healing” has emerged as a preferred tool of Christian proselytisers to lure the vanvasi communities of Bharat. Thousands of tribals, particularly in remote regions across multiple states, are reportedly being converted through elaborate hoaxes presented as healing miracles and prayer crusades.

 

These operations often take the form of organised “healing crusades”, conducted by preachers who are frequently outsiders to the local community. During these gatherings, individuals suffering from physical disabilities or serious illnesses are showcased as having recovered miraculously after prayers invoking the name of Christ. Local churches and clerics are alleged to play an active role in facilitating such events, as they help meet proselytising targets.

 

According to individuals familiar with these activities, local churches and pastors routinely host visiting faith healers. These healers are believed to assist in fulfilling conversion targets allegedly linked to donor expectations from certain Western countries. The combination of poverty, lack of medical access, and social marginalisation makes tribal and vulnerable communities particularly susceptible to such claims.

 

 

 

On 9 December 2025, Pune Police arrested Pastor Yoseph Gill after a video and social media posts on platform X went viral. The material allegedly showed him claiming that his prayers had cured a woman of AIDS during an event projected as a Christmas celebration. Police sources stated that the programme targeted poor and Dalit communities and aimed to promote religious conversion under the guise of faith healing. Authorities acted following widespread public outrage and multiple complaints.

 

 

 

In Agra, Uttar Pradesh, police filed a chargesheet on 30 November 2025 against eight individuals, including Rajkumar Lalwani and his associates. The accused allegedly lured around 80 local families to Sunday prayer meetings by promising cures for illnesses, better education for children, and improved employment opportunities. Investigators stated that these inducements were used to pressure families into religious conversion.

 

 

A significant conviction emerged from Mavdipur village in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh. Billyadeh and Nanuram were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment each and fined ₹50,000. The court concluded that the accused had pressured villagers to abandon Hinduism by falsely claiming that conversion would eliminate illness and guarantee medical care. Activists have cited this judgment as an important precedent in cases of faith based fraud.

 

 

On 4 October 2025, Raipur Police registered an FIR against Mayaram and five others for allegedly performing fake healing rituals on a sick woman and using her condition to promote religious conversion. Earlier, in Bilaspur’s Pachpedi area, Pastor Sukhnandan Lahre and his brother were arrested under the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act and BNS Section 299. They were accused of organising “changgai sabhas” that promised miracle cures and financial incentives to vulnerable villagers.

 

 

 

In Bhiwandi, Thane district, police arrested James Watson, an American national, along with two local associates on 4 October 2025. Investigators alleged that the accused staged fake healings outside a private residence and distributed Christian literature while telling villagers that their illnesses would disappear if they converted to Christianity.

 

 

 

Multiple incidents across Uttar Pradesh point to a recurring pattern. In Nigohan, Lucknow, a man named Malkhan was arrested on 28 September 2025 for allegedly pressuring Scheduled Caste women and children through fake miraculous healings and monetary inducements. Similar allegations surfaced in Kundawali village, Islamnagar, where four individuals were arrested for influencing around 30 villagers using false healing claims. In cases linked to Pilibhit and Jabalpur, women suffering from illness reported threats, inducements, and ritual coercion connected to conversion attempts.

 

 

In Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, police detained several individuals following complaints that prayer gatherings known as “changgai sabha” were being used to promise cures for all ailments in exchange for conversion. In Bundia, Chhattisgarh, Pastor Mangal Toppo and his associates were arrested and sent to jail after similar allegations surfaced.

 

 

One of the largest reported incidents occurred on 20 June 2025 in Saraswati Nagar, Raipur. Over 150 people reportedly gathered at an event led by Pastor Amit Singh and his associates. Activists alleged instances of fake healings and derogatory remarks against Hindu deities, which led to police intervention and temporary detentions.

 

 

Together, these cases have triggered a nationwide crackdown and renewed scrutiny of faith based fraud, highlighting the growing concern over coercive conversions carried out under the pretext of miracle cures and spiritual healing.