Lucknow: Following the recent arrest of a couple in Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly converting members of marginalised communities in Ghaziabad through monetary inducements, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has assumed control of the investigation into the matter.

The accused, identified as Pastor Mahinder Kumar and his wife Seema from Peernagar Sudana in Hapur district, were apprehended after an FIR was filed based on complaints of people being approached and offered money in the Modinagar area for religious conversion to Christianity. The police have seized three mobile phones during the arrest and are currently examining call details.

Authorities revealed that the couple operated a charitable trust called Bethlehem Gospel, which allegedly received funds from overseas to convert individuals from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities to Christianity.

ACP Modinagar Gyan Prakash Rai reported that the couple had 10 bank accounts in foreign banks, and transactions worth several thousand rupees were uncovered during the inquiry. Notably, Pastor Mahinder Kumar received Rs 30 lakh from foreign sources. The police have also discovered the involvement of two individuals from Mumbai and Chennai in the alleged conversion ring.

Over a hundred individuals who were baptized by the couple are said to be in contact with them. On July 30, a six-member UP STF team arrived at Modinagar police station to gather case details and inquire about the progress of the investigation.

In a related incident, a complaint was lodged against a mother-son duo in Shahjahanpur, but during the investigation, their alleged role in forced conversions could not be substantiated, potentially leading to a clean chit. However, the accused Pastor Mahinder Kumar and his wife Seema remain arrested and in custody.

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