Pune Pastor Booked Under Anti-Superstition Law for Allegedly Claiming Prayer Can Cure Incurable Diseases
Kondhwa, 17th June 2026: The Kondhwa Police have booked a church pastor and several volunteers following allegations that they encouraged people to rely solely on prayer for the treatment of serious illnesses and engaged in activities prohibited under Maharashtra’s anti-superstition law.
The accused have been identified as Pastor Kenneth Paul Silve, a resident of Chinchwad, and seven to eight volunteers associated with Jesus Is Lord Church in Shivnerinagar, Kondhwa.
The case stems from an incident reported to have taken place on June 14 at the church premises. The complaint was lodged by Bhagyashree Suryakant Mohite (32), a resident of Yerawada Gaothan.
Based on the complaint, police have registered offences under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, along with relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Police Act.
According to investigators, Mohite visited the church on Sunday afternoon and observed a large gathering allegedly addressed by Pastor Silve. During the event, the pastor is accused of claiming that prayers could completely cure severe and incurable diseases.
Police said the complainant suspected that the statements violated provisions of the state’s anti-superstition legislation. She and her friend, identified as Nisha, allegedly began recording videos of the proceedings on their mobile phones as documentation.
The complaint further alleges that church volunteers confronted the two women, assaulted them, and forced them to delete the recorded videos from their devices.
An investigation is underway, and police have not yet disclosed whether any arrests have been made in the case.
