Church of South India (CSI) South Kerala diocese’s Board for Mission joint director Fr. Jayan told The Hindu on Wednesday that steps were being taken under the leadership of diocese secretary T.T. Praveen to free the Keralite priest and his wife arrested in Maharashtra on charges of alleged religious conversion.
Fr. Jayan said the diocese had got in touch with Fr. Sudheer, the arrested priest. The priest was to be presented in court on Wednesday afternoon.
Fr. Sudheer had been in Maharashtra for the past five years. He had been invited to a Christmas programme at the house of one of the local people and had reached there along with other missionaries. The birthday of the person who had invited the priest was also being celebrated on the occasion, the priest informed the diocese officials.
Fr. Jayan said that besides the priest and his wife, a few others had been arrested by the police on a complaint, reportedly from Bajrang Dal activists, of alleged religious conversion.
Published – December 31, 2025 03:13 pm IST
