Mumbai

Devendra Fadnavis on Monday defended the proposed Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, saying it aims to curb fraudulent religious conversions and address cases where women are allegedly lured into relationships, married and later abandoned.

Speaking to reporters at the Mantralaya, Fadnavis said the opposition was politicising the issue for vote-bank considerations.

The Maharashtra government introduced the bill in the state assembly on Friday, proposing stringent provisions to prohibit religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement or marriage.

If enacted, Maharashtra will join states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand that have enacted similar laws regulating religious conversions.

Under the proposed law, those involved in unlawful conversions on the pretext of marriage could face up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The bill prescribes stricter penalties — seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh — in cases involving minors, persons of unsound mind, women, or members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

“There have been many cases where women were lured, they eloped and were abandoned after marriage. In such situations questions arise about their children and their future, complicating their lives. The bill is trying to find solutions to such problems,” Fadnavis said.

He asserted that once opposition parties read the bill carefully, they would realise it does not target any particular community but seeks to prevent conversions carried out through inducement, coercion or pressure.

“The Opposition is merely trying to politicise the issue for vote-bank politics. After carefully reading the bill, they will not object to it,” he added.

The proposed legislation requires any person intending to convert from one religion to another, as well as individuals or institutions organising a conversion ceremony, to submit a notice at least 60 days in advance to the competent authority, typically the district magistrate or a designated officer.

Authorities would publicly display the details of the proposed conversion and invite objections from the public within 30 days.

The bill also mandates that the converted person and the organiser submit a declaration within 21 days after the conversion.

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Additionally, it allows parents, siblings or relatives of the converted individual to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) if they suspect unlawful conversion, requiring the police to register such complaints.