PUNE: The Pune city police seemed to have acted in a haste and invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026, against a man from Uttar Pradesh and a UK national though it would come into force from Aug 28, prompting senior officers to admit the error.The Phursungi police invoked the act against the Uttar Pradesh man in an FIR registered on Aug 5. The UK citizen, Pankaj James Devnoor, was booked under the act in the FIR registered at the Khadak police station on Aug 9 in connection with a programme held on Aug 7.The Maharashtra govt’s official Gazette shows that the home department issued the act’s commencement notification on Aug 17. It declared Aug 28, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act would come into force. The notification was issued under Section 1(2) of the Act.When TOI contacted assistant commissioner of police (Faraskhana division) Sachin Hire about the FIR against the UK national, Devnoor, under Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, he said, “We have come to know about the recent Gazette notification. The investigating officer will remove the provisions of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act. Since the accused is an OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card holder, he cannot carry out any missionary activities. We may charge him under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, after the investigation is completed.”Devnoor’s lawyer, Vijay Thombre, said, “The FIR registered on Aug 9 recorded the alleged occurrence (of the religious event) on the evening of Aug 7. Thus, there is a 21-day gap between the alleged incident and the enforcement of the Act, and a 19-day gap between registration of the FIR and its enforcement. Article 20(1) of the Constitution of India provides that no person can be punished for an offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the act charged as an offence.”Thombre said, “My client was not carrying out any conversion activities. He came to India to attend a Christian religious programme at a church on invitation. The image of Devnoor has been severely harmed by the Pune police. We will file a defamation suit in Bombay high court soon.”Devnoor was earlier granted anticipatory bail in connection with the case.The gap between the FIR registered on Aug 5 against the Uttar Pradesh man and the enforcement of Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act is even more — 23 days. He was accused of kidnapping a minor girl, attempting to convert her religion and subjecting her to sexual abuse.Senior inspector Amol More of the Phursungi police said, “After the commencement notification, we will remove the provisions of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act against the accused. He will still be charged under sections of kidnapping and the POCSO Act.”
