A 58-year-old American citizen, identified as James Watson, was arrested late Friday night in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi along with two locals for allegedly attempting to convert villagers to Christianity during a prayer meet in Chimbipada village. Police say Watson who was in India on a business visa, had been misusing his visa for religious activity.

The complaint states the trio told villagers that “Hinduism was based on superstition” and claimed that accepting Christianity would bring them “happiness, prosperity, and healing from illnesses,” ToI reported.

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Arrests in Chimbipada: who are the accused?

The three men taken into custody are: James Watson, 58, a US national, currently living in Thane, Sainath Ganpati Sarpe, 42, a resident of Palghar, and Manoj Govind Kolha, 35, a  resident of Chimbipada, Bhiwandi

All three have been charged under multiple provisions, including Sections 299 & 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings and intentionally hurting sentiments), the Foreigners Act (for misusing visa conditions and Maharashtra’s 2013 Anti-Black Magic Law, according to the Times of India.

Senior Inspector Harshavardhan Barve confirmed, “Watson had come to India on a business visa, which he was misusing for religious activity. Further probe is on.”

Who is James Watson arrested in Bhiwandi?

Watson, who was on his Business Visa to India, is accused of misusing his visa to engage in religious propagation, a violation of his visa conditions. He reportedly also targeted children since they are easy to persuade. Villagers alleged that Watson and his aides asked if any children were unwell and then kept a notepad to list down the names who were later forcibly detained. Following this, Watson reportedly placed his hands on their foreheads. He claimed he was performing some ‘divine’ rituals to cure them. Police said this act of misleading led to additional charges under the anti-black magic law, which criminalises claims of miracle healing.

A few reports claim Watson is an Army Major. Several clips of him are doing rounds on the internet, wearing an army uniform and speaking to the camera. Watson is said to be based in South Carolina, though Financial Express cannot verify those claims.

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The FIR was filed after a local, Ravinath Bhurkut, accused Watson of holding a prayer meet outside Kolha’s house on Friday evening. The event was attended by nearly 35 villagers. At the gathering, Watson and his aides allegedly read from books they had brought in a vehicle and began preaching about Christianity. According to investigators, Watson and the others also told villagers that illnesses could be cured not by medicine but by Christian prayers and even by drinking wine offered as “prasad.”

The police have seized religious books and other materials from the vehicle. Officials are now checking if this incident was a first offence or part of a bigger, organised conversion network.

Probe Into Watson’s Visits to India

Authorities confirmed that Watson, despite holding a business visa, had been attending religious gatherings in remote areas of Bhiwandi. Investigators are currently probing his whereabouts, including how many times he has previously visited India, how many villages or individuals he might have tried to convert, and his network of local contacts in Maharashtra. Watson is currently in judicial custody, and further interrogation is expected.