2 min readBhopalApr 12, 2026 06:33 AM IST
Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district have registered a case against two pastors and their associates for allegedly running a religious conversion racket under the guise of “faith healing” in Mohanpur Khurd village.
According to the Myana police, an FIR has been lodged against Pastors Uttam Barela and Vikas Barela following a preliminary inquiry. The case gained traction after a complainant, identified as Brijesh Bairagi from Karod village, approached the police after witnessing the event earlier this month.
“We arrested Barela in the case. The complainant is a member of a right-wing group in Guna. We are investigating the case,” a senior police officer told The Indian Express.
In his complaint, Bairagi stated that on April 5, while passing through Mohanpur Khurd, he came across a large gathering in a tent where a “healing congregation” was underway. He alleged that “the pastors were placing their hands on people’s heads, performing rituals, and claiming that serious illnesses—including cancer could be cured through faith in the Christian religion,” the officer said.
Police said the complaint further alleged that tribal villagers were being lured with promises of medical treatment and financial assistance. Attendees were allegedly warned that refusal to convert would result in their illnesses remaining incurable and eternal suffering. The accused allegedly assured villagers that conversion would not require them to change their names or caste status, allowing them to continue availing government benefits.
“The FIR also mentions that large quantities of meat and chicken were served at the gathering, which, according to the complainant, was used as an inducement to influence attendees,” the officer said.
Investigators said purported videos of the event that surfaced online, along with materials seized from the site, have been included as part of the evidence. They added that the probe is examining whether a broader network is involved in organising such events in rural areas.
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“The accused are being traced and further action is underway based on available evidence,” the police officer said, adding that strict action would be taken against those found promoting superstition or carrying out conversions through inducement or coercion.
