Evangelist and Son Among Six Booked Under Maharashtra's Anti-Black Magic Law
Sangli police in Maharashtra have taken legal action against six individuals, including an evangelist and his son hailing from Chennai, by filing a First Information Report (FIR) under the stringent Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. The case revolves around allegations that the accused made unverified claims during a religious event, asserting that prayers could cure stage four cancer and help students secure 99% marks in examinations.
Controversial Event: Maharashtra Prayer Festival 2026
The incident unfolded at the "Maharashtra Prayer Festival 2026", organized at Kawalapur near Sangli city. Initially, the event faced opposition from the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and right-wing groups, who filed complaints warning that it could propagate black magic in society. Despite starting on Friday, police revoked permission citing violations of terms and conditions.
However, the organizers challenged this decision in the Bombay High Court's Kolhapur bench, which subsequently allowed the event to proceed. On Sunday, the final day, approximately 10,000 attendees participated under heavy police protection, as confirmed by authorities.
Legal Charges and Police Action
The FIR, registered on Saturday evening based on a constable's complaint, invokes Section 3(2) of the Black Magic Act, which pertains to propagating black magic. Additionally, sections 223 (disobedience to order) and 3(5) [common intention] of the BNS 2023 have been applied. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.
According to police reports, the event was organized by the Hope of Glory Ministry, run by the evangelist and his family members. Permission for loudspeaker use was sought on February 28 and granted on March 7, subject to specific conditions.
Allegations of Superstition and Unverified Claims
Complaints from the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and Sakal Hindu Samaj Sangli alleged that the festival included programs spreading superstitions, based on earlier events streamed online. In response, Sangli police deployed personnel to monitor the gathering at a vacant space near Kawalapur.
During the event, the evangelist invited a woman and a man from the crowd to share their experiences. The man claimed to have been diagnosed with stage four cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and being given only 15 days to live by doctors. He attributed his survival to the evangelist's "lay hand pray" intervention.
The woman recounted suffering from a blood-related disease, visiting doctors before seeking help from the evangelist and his wife. She asserted that after reciting prayers, her condition improved, and she even achieved 99% marks in her graduation.
Police noted in the FIR that these statements, lacking scientific evidence, had the potential to foster superstitions in society. Consequently, the evangelist, his son, the organizers, the woman, and an unknown man have been officially booked at the Sangli Rural police station.
