Devout Hindus Amit Bhosale and Vikram Ghungarwala accuse Bishop Pankaj Devanur of using Hindu devotional forms for Christian evangelism; claim police investigation is too slow
Pune, Maharashtra – Devout Hindus Amit Raju Bhosale and Vikram Ghungarwala demanded at a press conference that the police immediately arrest Bishop Pankaj Devanur, who is using the Hindu tradition of ‘kirtan bhakti’ to lure Hindus into converting to Christianity. They also called for verification of his passport and other documents, and for strict action against the organisers of the event.
Demand: Arrest foreign bishop accused of using Hindu Kirtan for Christian evangelisation in Pune.
Why do citizens have to demand action first?
If police delay is deliberate, officers must be held accountable too.
No place for deceptive conversions. #Pune #Conversion pic.twitter.com/PbigM1XBRA— Pandurang Dhond (@PandurangDhond7) August 19, 2026
Advocate Ashish Sonawane and Sitaram Solanki were present on this occasion. The activists claimed the police role in the case is suspicious and that this is the first case registered in the state under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026. They further alleged that the police are investigating extremely slowly.
The programme in question
A kirtan programme was organised on 7 August at the ‘Pavitra Naam Devalay’ (Church) in Guruwar Peth. It was alleged at the press conference that ‘kirtan’, a tradition of Hindu Dharma and an integral part of the Bhakti tradition as well as Navavidha bhakti, was deliberately used for Christian evangelism.
Background on the accused and nature of the allegations
Pankaj Devanur holds British citizenship and is an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder. The activists said he has violated the Immigration and Foreigners Act. They claimed that, despite prohibitions on such citizens engaging in religious propagation, conversion attempts, or preaching on religious platforms in India, Devanur was attempting religious conversion.
Shri. Bhosale and Shri. Ghungarwala also alleged that during the kirtan organised at the church on the occasion of its anniversary, Hindu forms of worship including kirtan, abhang, bhajan, bharud, powada, gondhal, mauli, traditional musical instruments, and well-known devotional compositions were deliberately used to propagate Christianity.
