Malayali priest, seven others get bail in conversion case

A Keralite priest of the CSI Church, his family and other associates, who were arrested on charges of forced religious conversion at Shingori village in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, got bail on Wednesday (December 31, 2025). 

Sudhir William, originally from Thiruvananthapuram and based in Nagpur for five years, travelled to Shingori for a prayer meet at the house of a local resident, Ritesh Bondre, on Tuesday (December 30). According to a complaint filed by one Laxman Devidas Shede, a resident of Shingori, and members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajarang Dal, Mr. William allegedly urged the gathering to convert to Christianity.

The FIR, accessed by The Hindu, stated, “The resident of Shingori, Ritesh Bondre, had put up a gazibo in front of his house. Around 6 p.m., a person wearing a white dress was discussing Christianity. He was telling the people about converting to their religion and receiving a job and money in return. I also asked Ritesh about the guest, he replied, ‘They came for my birthday’.”

A video surfaced online showing members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal searching the car of a guest who had arrived from Nagpur and objecting to flags bearing a cross sign. “Do these denote symbols of Hinduism,” a person could be heard in the clip.

A complaint was filed under Sections 299 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (which criminalises deliberate acts of insult to religious beliefs) and 302 (intent to hurt religious feelings). The police acted on the complaint and detained Mr. Bondre for interrogation. 

“During the investigation, the accused Ritesh Bondre took the names of Anandkumar Benjamin Curry, Sudhir William, John William, Vikram Gopal Sande, and four other women,” the police said in a statement. 

Superintendent of Police of Amravati Rural, Vishal Anand, said, “Bail was granted to all eight accused in the morning after they were presented in the court for police custody. A resident of Shingori, along with members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, registered a case against the family. Investigations are underway.”

Mr. Anand said that “there is peace in the area” and appealed to residents “to not believe any rumours, and if any untoward incident is witnessed, immediately inform the nearest police station and cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order.”