Thane Court Grants Bail to US Citizen and Two Indians in Conversion Case
A court in Thane district has granted bail to a U.S. citizen and two Indian nationals who were arrested earlier this month on charges of attempting to convert people to another religion. The Additional Sessions Court at Bhiwandi, presided over by Judge N. L. Kale, ordered their release on a bail bond of Rs 30,000 each. The court stated that keeping them in jail would not serve any "fruitful purpose," adhering to the legal principle that "bail is the rule and jail is an exception".
The American citizen, James Leonard Watson, 58, along with his co-accused, Sainath Ganpati Sarpe, 42, and Manoj Govind Kolha, 35, both local residents, were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, and the Foreigners Act, 1946 (invoked against Watson).
The case was registered at the Bhiwandi taluka police station following an FIR alleging that on October 3, during a prayer program in Bhuishet village, the accused were actively campaigning for the Christian faith and attempting to compel members of the Hindu community to convert. The prosecution claimed that the accused were distributing "wine," assuring attendees that it would solve their problems and cure illnesses. The FIR further alleged that the trio targeted underage children and "forcibly tried to give wine to minor girls for campaigning of Christian religion". Watson was additionally accused of violating the terms of his business visa by engaging in religious campaigning.
Judge Kale, while granting bail on October 29, emphasized that the maximum punishment for the primary offenses was not more than seven years. The court also noted that, apart from the contents of the FIR, there was no conclusive evidence to prove that Watson forcibly administered wine to minor girls to convert them. The court also considered that Watson had entered India with a valid passport and visa. "In many rulings, the Honorable Apex Court as well as our parent (Bombay) High Court has issued guidelines that bail is the rule and jail is an exception. The said principle is applicable to the present applicant, considering the punishment prescribed for the offenses alleged," the court stated.
As part of the bail conditions, the court instructed the three accused to be present at the police station every Wednesday until the charge sheet is filed, or for a period of one month. They were also warned against tampering with evidence. Watson is restricted from leaving India without the court's permission until his visa or the trial concludes.
