Pune: Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Arrest U.S. Citizen, Two Others for Alleged Forced Religious Conversion
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri-Chinchwad, 28th July 2025: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have arrested three individuals, including a U.S. citizen and a minor, for allegedly attempting to forcibly convert a local resident to Christianity in the Pimpri Camp area. The arrests were made late Sunday night following a complaint filed by Sunny Danani (27), a resident of Pimpri.
According to the police, a case has been registered against Schaefer Javin Jacob (41), a native of California currently residing at Mukai Chowk; Steven Kadam (46), a resident of Ajmera Colony; and a 16-year-old minor. Jacob and Kadam have been taken into custody.
Senior Police Inspector Ashok Kadlag of Pimpri Police Station stated that the accused allegedly tried to coerce the complainant into converting by making false promises such as guaranteed happiness, peace, and financial support. They reportedly told the complainant to “not follow other gods, only Jesus,” and allegedly insulted his religious beliefs during the attempt.
The case has been filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), Section 3(5) (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention), and relevant provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946. Police Inspector (Crime) Vijay Anand Patil is leading the investigation.
Speaking to the media, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Pimpri Division) Sachin Hire said, “The accused showed the complainant a PDF and asked him to convert to Christianity, insulting his religion in the process. All three accused have been detained, one is an American citizen, another a local from Pimpri, and one is a minor. The American national has been staying in India intermittently on a business visa since 2016. We request citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands in such situations and instead alert the police. We are fully capable of handling such matters.”
