The term “Crypto-Christians” refers to individuals who secretly adhere to Christianity while publicly maintaining a Hindu identity, often retaining Hindu names. Recent concerns have emerged regarding alleged criminal activities, including forced conversions and exploitation, by individuals reportedly falling into this category, raising complex questions about religious identity, deception, and legal implications.
In a significant announcement made during a calling attention motion by MLC Amit Gorkhe in the legislative council, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra declared that the state government will initiate legal action and implement stringent measures against individuals identified as ‘Crypto-Christians’. These individuals are allegedly exploiting their official Hindu and reserved caste status to illicitly secure benefits in education, employment, and elections.
The Chief Minister further stated that all Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates found to have been fraudulently obtained by individuals practising religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism will be revoked.
MLC Gorkhe, in his motion, alleged that a substantial number of ‘Crypto-Christians’ primarily originate from scheduled castes/tribes, as well as Nomadic and Denotified Tribes. He claimed, “They secretly adopt the Christian faith, observing its customs and traditions in a concealed manner. Their true religion is often revealed only during funerals.” This crackdown signals a firm stance by the Maharashtra government against what it perceives as misrepresentation for undue advantages.
This report documents nine significant incidents occurring between 2017 and 2025, detailing alleged cases of forced conversions, sexual exploitation, and other crimes attributed to individuals identified as “Crypto-Christians.”
Pregnant woman dies by suicide amid pressure to convert to Christianity
A tragic incident occurred in Kupwad town, where 28-year-old Rutuja Sukumar Rajge, seven months pregnant, died by suicide. Her death is attributed to constant harassment from her in-laws, who allegedly pressured her to convert to Christianity. The in-laws, despite belonging to the (Hindu) Dhangar community, reportedly followed Christian practices and coerced Rutuja to attend church, read the Bible, and pray. Kupwad MIDC police have arrested her husband, Sukumar Rajge, and his parents in connection with the case.
Pastor and accomplices accused of sexual abuse and forced conversion
A 32-year-old woman in Pune has reported repeated sexual abuse at gunpoint by Pastor Santosh Ramdas Gaikwad and his accomplice Sagar Madhukar Landge. The victim alleges that Mayuri Ghodke lured her to her house, where she was confined. The two men then subjected her to repeated sexual abuse while simultaneously pressuring her to convert to Christianity. Following an FIR registered on January 23, 2025, Pune Airport Police arrested all three accused, including Mayuri Ghodke.
Pastor couple booked for hurting religious sentiments and fake healing claims
Pastor Gopal Randive and his wife Asha Randive, associated with the ‘Bandhan Mukt Seva Karya’ organisation, have been booked by Kothrud police. They face charges of hurting Hindu religious sentiments and violating the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Black Magic Act, 2013. The complaint, filed by Vaibhav Vitthal Bhikole, alleges that the couple distributed ‘holy anointing oil’ during missionary programs, falsely claiming it could cure all health problems. They are accused of defaming Hinduism and attempting forced conversions, particularly targeting impoverished Hindu slum dwellers in areas like Uttamnagar, Ramwadi, and Warje near Kothrud.
Pastor and associates accused of child abuse in church
A distressing case of child abuse has come to light in Ahmednagar, where Pastor Uttam Vairagar and his associates, Sanjay Vairagar and Sunil Vairagar, are accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting two 10-year-old minor girls from the Sonai area. The alleged abuse took place in a church under the guise of exorcising evil spirits. Police have filed a comprehensive complaint against the three accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, including 376(2), 376(2)(j), 376(2)(n), 376AB, 354A, and 34, as well as sections 3, 4, 5f, 5m, 5l, 6, 7, 8, 9f, 9l, 9m, 10, 11, and 12 of the POCSO Act.
Caste certificate revocation case: Picture of Jesus Christ found in home
The Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench delivered a significant ruling in October 2023 regarding a 17-year-old girl’s caste certificate. In September 2022, the Amravati District Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee had invalidated her claim to the ‘Mahar Committee’ caste. This decision stemmed from an inquiry by the committee’s vigilance cell, which found that the petitioner’s father and grandfather had converted to Christianity, and a picture of Jesus Christ was displayed in their home. However, Justices Prithviraj Chavan and Urmila Joshi Phalke ruled in the case of Parvez Ashish Chakraborty vs State of Maharashtra and others that merely having a picture of Jesus Christ in a person’s house does not constitute conversion to Christianity, overturning the committee’s decision.
Hindu woman gang-raped, family tortured, and forced conversion attempted in Mumbai
Maharashtra Police arrested four individuals – Butti, Prerna, Bhausaheb Dodke, and Pastor Rahul – for allegedly raping a 35-year-old Hindu woman, torturing her family, and attempting to force their conversion to Christianity. An FIR has been registered against the accused under various sections of the IPC, including gang rape, causing hurt by poison, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation, along with sections of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
14 booked for alleged forced conversion attempt in Pune
Alandi police in Maharashtra registered an FIR against 14 individuals, including a minor boy, following a complaint from Prasad Salunkhe. The accused, identified as Pradip Waghmare, Prashant Waghmare, Ronak Shinde, Ashok Pandhare, Tejas Chandne, Mukesh Vishwakarma, Lakshman Naidu, M B Yun, J Yun, Ishal Salve, three more women, and a 17-year-old boy, are alleged to have been spreading hatred between religious communities and offering financial incentives to people for converting to Christianity.
Converted Christian allegedly abused wife for 21 years to force conversion
Ravindersingh Bhanwarsingh Rajpurohit, a resident of Yerwada in Pune, has been accused of 21 years of physical and mental harassment against his wife, her parents, and children, to force their conversion to Christianity. Rajpurohit reportedly converted to Christianity 21 years prior. The wife’s complaint states he would beat family members, threaten to send their children to a Christian school, and hurt her religious sentiments by throwing idols of Hindu deities into a river. Maharashtra Police have registered an FIR against Ravinder Singh.
Pastor and female devotee arrested for alleged rape of student
Police in Vitthalwadi arrested Geet Kumar Somnath Pillai, also known as Manikuttan or Shreejit, a 40-year-old pastor at Sharon Fellowship Church, along with a 25-year-old female devotee named Rosy (name changed). They are accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a Class X student for two years. The victim alleges the pastor threatened her, and his accomplice blackmailed her, taking her to his house where both committed the assault. An FIR has been registered against them for child abuse.
The documented incidents from 2017 to 2025 reveal a troubling pattern of alleged criminal activity by individuals identified as “Crypto-Christians” in Maharashtra. These cases highlight a complex and disturbing nexus involving identity concealment, religious coercion, and various forms of exploitation, including sexual abuse and forced conversions.
The allegations, ranging from a pregnant woman’s suicide due to conversion pressure to instances of gang rape and child abuse within religious settings, underscore severe breaches of trust and law. The claims of exploiting Hindu names and reserved caste status for undue benefits further complicate these matters, leading to legal actions and public outcry. These incidents, as reported, point to a critical need for scrutiny into the alleged activities of those who may be misrepresenting their religious identity, impacting both individual safety and communal harmony.
