The Maharashtra Assembly on Monday (March 16, 2026) night passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, which has stringent provisions to prohibit religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement or marriage, by voice vote.

As per the Bill, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and shall also be liable for a fine of ₹1 lakh.

Violations in respect of a minor, a person of unsound mind, a woman or a person belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe will be punished with imprisonment of seven years and a fine of ₹5 lakh.

Mass conversions will have a jail term of seven years and a fine of ₹5 lakh. Repeat offenders can get a jail sentence of 10 years and a fine of ₹5 lakh, as per the Bill.

“The proposed anti-conversion law in Maharashtra is not directed against any particular religion, and it aims only to prevent religious conversions carried out through force, fraud or inducement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the assembly.

He noted that several States, including Odisha, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Jharkhand, have already enacted similar laws.

“This bill does not restrict a person’s right to follow a religion as guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. The right to religion does not include the right to convert another person through coercion, misrepresentation, fraud or allurement,” Mr. Fadnavis said and cited rulings of the Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Fadnavis told reporters that several women had been lured into relationships, married, and later abandoned, asserting that the bill against fraudulent religious conversion aims to address these issues and curb such practices.

“The Opposition parties are politicising the issue for vote-bank gains, but once they read the bill carefully, they will have no objections,” he added.

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr. Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, also stated that complaints can be filed by the affected individual or close relatives, while the police may also take action in certain cases.

Seeking support for the passage of the bill, the Chief Minister said the bill is intended to protect citizens from unlawful conversions and help maintain law and order.

Notably, the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) has extended its support to the bill.

Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said the bill aims to protect the right to religious freedom and prevent illegal religious conversions.

“It is comprehensive and does not target any specific religion, despite rumours or misconceptions. The objective is to curb unethical practices and misuse of religion that harm individuals or communities,” Mr. Jadhav said, adding that reports of the bill targeting a particular religion are incorrect.

The bill applies to all religions equally, and its intent is to prevent coercion or inducement in religious conversion, he added, citing Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s conversion in 1956 as voluntary and without coercion.

He emphasised that every religion has certain harmful practices that restrict human rights, and the bill is meant to regulate such practices legally.

A majority of Opposition MLAs demanded that the bill be referred to a joint select committee of the legislature for discussions.

Minister of State for Home Pankaj Bhoyar said the proposed law aims to prevent conversions carried out through fraud, coercion or inducement while safeguarding Constitutional rights.

Replying to the debate in the House, Mr. Bhoyar said the bill seeks to ensure that religious conversions take place voluntarily and in a transparent manner.

Some members had objected to the provision requiring a person intending to convert to another religion to give a 60-day prior notice to the district magistrate, calling it unjust and against constitutional guarantees, he said.

“The objective of this provision is only to verify that the conversion is taking place out of free will and not through fraud, force or inducement,” Mr. Bhoyar said, adding that the procedure was meant to provide transparency and protection rather than restrict personal liberty.

The Minister also addressed concerns over the requirement to inform authorities within 21 days after the conversion, failing which the conversion could be treated as invalid.

He said the requirement was meant for administrative record-keeping and to prevent potential legal and social disputes in the future.

Responding to criticism that relatives or other persons could file complaints regarding the forced conversions, Mr. Bhoyar said in many cases, victims may not be in a position to approach the police themselves.

“The provision allowing others to lodge complaints is intended to ensure protection where fraud, pressure or threats are suspected,” he said.

Mr. Bhoyar stated that the law does not deny adults the right to change their religion, noting that the Constitution guarantees the freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion.

The Minister added that special care would be taken during implementation to ensure the protection of women’s rights, adding that the law seeks to safeguard women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minors from forced or fraudulent conversions.

Mr. Bhoyar further said that if a marriage takes place on the basis of an illegal conversion and a child is born, the child would be considered to follow the mother’s original religion prior to conversion, as per provisions in the bill.

BJP’s Atul Bhatkalkar warned against attempts to alter Maharashtra’s demography through religious conversion, saying such efforts would not succeed.

After the discussion, presiding officer Sanjay Kelkar declared the bill passed.

Nitin Raut and other MLAs from the Opposition had raised concerns over possible “vigilantism”.

Congress MLA Aslam Shaikh said the objective and essence of the bill appear to impact the Constitution and right to privacy.

Samajwadi Party MLAs Abu Asim Azmi and Rais Shaikh also opposed the bill.

Shaikh said the bill violates Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution.

“Maharashtra is a progressive state which has always set an example for the rest of the country. This bill curtails the Constitutional right to freedom of religion,” he said.

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Mumbai:

Embattled Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde on Thursday said he has been diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy, a condition that causes sudden weakness in face muscles, which had severely affected his ability to speak.

Mr Munde made the announcement on Facebook.

“Currently, I cannot speak properly for even two minutes, which has prevented me from attending cabinet meetings and public events,” Mr Munde said in the post. 

Munde assured Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar that he was committed to overcoming his illness and returning to public service as soon as possible.

The minister had undergone eye surgery under Dr TP Lahane some 15 days ago, and he had been advised to stay away from bright lights, dust and sun exposure.

Mr Munde is under fire from the opposition and some Mahayuti colleagues after close aide Walmik Karad was held in an extortion case linked to the abduction and brutal murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Massajog in Beed on December 9.

Mr Munde has maintained he has no connection with the sarpanch case and has also refuted allegations of irregularities when he was agriculture minister earlier. 

New Delhi:

Maharashtra could join the list of states that have a law against forced conversions and “love jihad” with the state government setting up a panel to study the aspects that can be covered under a future legislation. The seven-member panel will be headed by the director general of police, the top cop in the state, and include officials from the women and child welfare, minority affairs, law and judiciary, social justice, special assistance and Home departments. 

“Love jihad” is a term used by some to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women to marry them and then convert them to Islam.

In a government resolution issued on Friday, the BJP-led government in Maharashtra said the committee will suggest steps to deal with complaints of forced conversions and “love jihad”, and study the laws of other states to recommend legislation to prevent such acts. 

Thanking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the state government is taking steps to curb incidents of “love jihad”. 

“Love jihad is a serious issue, and the state government is working towards preventing such incidents. The committee established to address cases of love jihad will work for the protection of women and preservation of cultural values,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

Mr Lodha also pointed out that when he was in charge of the Women and Child Development department under the previous government led by Eknath Shinde, he had set up the Interfaith Marriage Coordination Committee, which helped bring such incidents to light. 

“Shraddha Walkar was brutally murdered by Aftab Amin. Rupali Chandanshive was killed by Iqbal Sheikh. Poonam Kshirsagar was murdered by Nizam Khan. Yashashree Shinde from Uran was killed by Dawood Sheikh. Sonam Shukla from Malad lost her life at the hands of Shahjib Ansari,” he said. 

Lok Sabha MP and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Working President Supriya Sule, however, said the government should focus on tackling economic issues rather than love and marriage, which are personal choices. 

“If the economy is impacted, the entire country will suffer,” she said. 

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat are among the states that already have laws to deal with cases of “love jihad”.

Last year, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly had passed the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024 with provisions for 20-year imprisonment or a life sentence if a person was converted under threat or a promise of marriage.  

Akola:

A former MLA and one more person were killed after a pickup vehicle hit their two-wheeler in Akola city of Maharashtra on Thursday, police said.

The former legislator, Tukaram Bidkar (73), was declared dead at a hospital where he was taken in a critical condition after the accident in the afternoon, an official said, adding that the police have arrested the driver of the pickup vehicle.

Mr Bidkar was an MLA of the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for a single term from 2004 to 2009, representing the Murtizapur assembly constituency in the district. He also served as the chairman of the Vidarbha Development Corporation.

“The accident took place at 3.30 pm in Shivni area of Akola when Mr Bidkar was pillion riding on a two-wheeler. He was taken to a private hospital, where he was declared dead. Rajdatta Mankar (48), who was riding the two-wheeler, also died in the accident,” a police official said.

Mr Bidkar was returning home after meeting Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule at the airport in Shivni, he said.

The MIDC police in Akola have arrested the accused driver, Mohammad Sahil Abdul Shahid (25), and the process of registering an FIR against him was underway, the official added.

Mr Bidkar had produced a Marathi film named “Debu” based on the life of Saint Gadge Maharaj, a social reformer who advocated for cleanliness, de-addiction, avoidance of blind faith, among other things. He had also worked as a Zilla Parishad member.

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Nagpur:

A 30-year-old man consumed poison at a police station in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city on Saturday in a bid to end his life after his partner ended her live-in relationship with him, an official said.

After the incident, which took place at the Nandanvan police station, the man – Sagar Mishra – was admitted to a hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment, he said.

According to police, his 27-year-old live-in partner last week ended her relationship due to his liquor addiction and returned to her family home in the city.

“On Saturday morning, Mishra went to her house and tried to convince her to return, which she refused. As her mother also resisted, he assaulted her. After that, a complaint was lodged against him at the police station,” an official said.

As a result, the police called him for questioning. But he brought along a bottle of poison and created a ruckus outside the police station. After he consumed the poison and started vomiting, the police rushed him to a hospital, he added.

A case of attempted suicide was registered, and investigation into the case was on, the police said.

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New Delhi:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is not new and has been found in the country before, said Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, Tuesday, even as the reported cases spike to 110 in Pune.

Speaking to IANS, Abitkar said that low immunity is a significant risk factor for the disease, which potentially causes a paralysing nerve disorder.

“GB syndrome is not new. The disease has previously affected people in Maharashtra and the entire country,” Abitkar told IANS.

In fact, the state launched the Mahatma Phule Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana in 2020 to counter such diseases, Abitkar said.

“GBS patients were given financial assistance up to Rs 2 lakh by the government,” he told IANS.

“People with low immunity are at significant risk of GBS; children under 15 years of age and elderly people over 65 years are at more risk,” said the Minister.

However, he noted that the reason for the increase in patients in Pune is different. He cited contaminated water causing infections as the major reason behind the spike in cases there.

“Of the 110 patients in Pune, 80 drank water from the same well. For this, we are continuously talking to the Pune Municipal Corporation.”

The Minister also reported one death due to the disease.

Allaying apprehension regarding the disease, he said “There is nothing to fear, and treatment is available for the condition.”

GBS occurs when antibodies, that fight bacterial or viral infections like Campylobacter jejuni or respiratory infections, cross-react with the peripheral nerves.

Manjari Tripathi, head of the neurology department, at AIIMS, told IANS that GBS is a sporadic disease. Sometimes it occurs in an endemic manner, but this time, it occurred in a cluster in Pune.

“In GB syndrome, there is a rapid ascending paralysis, starting from the lower limbs, going to the trunk, hands and respiratory muscles and bulbar muscles, which makes it difficult to swallow and breathe,” Tripathi said.

Notably, the symptoms are rather abrupt in onset and very rapid in progression, so it does not mimic other peripheral neuropathies, the neurologist said.

She explained that the disease is caused in the aftermath of a bacterial or viral infection.

“The infection usually occurs 10 days to two weeks before and then subsides, and that infection triggers the autoimmune response, which causes deterioration of the nerves, causing GB syndrome. It is essential that food and water hygiene be properly maintained,” the expert said.

Praveen Gupta, Principal Director and Chief of Neurology at a city-based Hospital said modern treatments are highly effective against the disease.

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Mumbai:

Maharashtra has reported its first death due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after a Pune-based Chartered Accountant succumbed to the disease.

The man was living in Pune’s DSK Vishwa area and was suffering from diarrhoea for a few days. He had gone to his native village in Solapur district for a private visit.

After feeling weak, he was admitted to a private hospital in Solapur where the doctors diagnosed him with GBS. He was shifted to the ICU for further treatment. The man was unable to move his hands and legs though he was under medical observation. Later, after a check-up doctors found his health stable and he was moved out of the ICU on Saturday. However, he suffered breathing problems and died on Saturday, said the relatives of the victim.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a rare immunological nerve disorder that causes sudden numbness and muscle weakness. In this condition, the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

Incidentally, Pune has been in the news for several days for the outbreak of GBS as the number of patients infected has been reported at 73 of which 14 are on ventilators. Nine suspected patients of GBS were found on Saturday.

The Pune Municipal Corporation is on alert mode and has adopted a slew of measures to deal with the situation.

According to the Pune civic body sources, the symptoms of GBS include diarrhoea, stomach ache, fever and nausea or vomiting.

Sources said, “GBS infection can be contracted by consuming contaminated water or food. The infection can cause diarrhoea and abdominal pain. In some individuals, the immune system targets the nerves, leading to a diagnosis of GBS within 1 to 3 weeks. In addition, the immune system attacks the nerves due to infections with dengue, chikungunya viruses, or other bacteria.”

The state health department in an advisory has urged the citizens to drink boiled water and avoid eating in open areas or stale food. In the event of sudden weakness in the muscles of the arms and legs, the citizens have been asked to consult the family doctor or go to the nearest government hospital.

A senior medical officer from the state health department said even though the exact cause of Guillain-Barre Syndrome is still unknown, its symptoms usually become prominent after a respiratory or digestive tract infection. However, he pointed out that bacterial or viral infection, recent vaccination, surgery and neuropathy can trigger Guillain-Barre Syndrome. He, however, appealed to the people not to panic saying that even though GBS is a rare disease and can be treated.

Meanwhile, the Union health ministry has sent a team to Pune where a recent outbreak of GBS has affected 73 people in and around the city’s Sinhgad area.

Further, the Public Health Minister, Prakash Abitkar said the number of Guillain Barre Syndrome patients has increased in Pune. It has been observed that water causes infection. The Health Department has ordered to take appropriate measures. Currently, this disease has been included in the state health insurance scheme titled Mahatma Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana. Earlier, private hospitals under this scheme were given Rs 80,000 but now it has been doubled to Rs 1.60 lakh.

The Health Minister has also informed that action will be taken against hospitals if they are charging unnecessary bills for the treatment of this disease. He further said that it has been observed that GBS occurs when the immune system is weakened. Abitkar said that GBS treatment in hospitals under the state health insurance scheme will be completely free. Hospitals will not be able to charge additional money from patients for this, hence, there will be no financial burden on patients.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in Pune said the GBS patients will be treated free in Pune civic body’s Kamala Nehru hospital.

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Nashik:

An 18-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by her brother-in-law and two others in Nashik city of Maharashtra on the pretext of arranging a guarantor to secure bail for her jailed husband, police said.

The incident took place in Panchavati area of the city between 10 am on January 22 and 5 pm on January 23, they said, adding that during her 31-hour ordeal, she was also thrashed by the accused, causing her to become unconscious a few times, but she managed to escape from their clutches.

While two of the accused have been arrested, her brother-in-law, who is elder to her husband, is absconding. Two more persons are suspected to be involved in the incident, they said.

As per the complaint lodged by the woman, she got married a few months back and since she was still a minor at that time, a complaint was lodged by her family members against her husband at the MIDC police station in Mumbai’s Andheri. A case was then registered against him and he is currently in a jail in Mumbai.

Recently, her brother-in-law called her to Nashik, where he resides, on the pretext of arranging a guarantor for her husband’s bail and release from the prison. Accordingly, she reached Nashik around 8.30 am on Wednesday, a police official said.

Her brother-in-law and other accused then took her to an open ground in Panchavati area under the pretext of meeting her husband’s guarantor. They also offered her food, but after she refused to accept it, they tied her to a tree. Around 1.30 pm, they beat her up and one of them raped her, due to which she fell unconscious, the complaint said.

When she regained consciousness around 7.30 am on Thursday, she found it difficult to talk and walk. She tried to escape, but the accused thrashed her again, due to which fell unconscious once again. This continued till 5 pm that day, it added.

In her complaint, she also said that when the trio was consuming liquor, the woman told them that she wanted to answer nature’s call. They allowed her to go, but asked one of the accused to go with her so that she does not escape. However, she pushed him aside and ran away. She reached the Nashik Road suburb of the city and lodged a complaint with the police late Thursday night.

According to police, two accused, Amit Vijay Damle and Gopal Rajendra Nagolkar, both aged 25, have been arrested, while a search is on for her brother-in-law.

Two more persons, one named Gopya, aged around 30 years, and another unidentified, are suspected to be involved in the crime, they said.

The Nashik Road police registered a case and transferred it to the Panchavati police station.

A case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 70 (1) (gang-rape), 64 (rape), 69 (sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means), 74 (assault or use of criminal force against woman), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 3 (5) (common intention) on Friday, they said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)