David Chacko held in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon over alleged forced conversions, minor sheltering, and suspicious foreign funding links — case now draws national attention.

A Racket Hidden in Plain Sight

A man was arrested in the Dharmapur village on the outskirts of Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, for allegedly running a church-styled ashram where minors were sheltered and systematic religious conversion activities were being carried out. The accused, identified as David Chacko, has been booked under the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act. Police say this may be just the tip of a much larger operation.

Who Is David Chacko?

Chacko was not operating alone, according to officials. He was allegedly coordinating activities across multiple districts in Chhattisgarh from his Rajnandgaon base. Authorities say he had access to foreign devices, maintained lists of individuals targeted for conversion, and was receiving financial inflows from abroad — details that have raised serious red flags during the ongoing investigation.

What Police Found

Investigators are questioning individuals about training modules recovered from the site — covering the topics taught, who participated, and the sources of funds received, which authorities describe as suspicious. Multiple people from affiliated organisations are under examination. The probe is looking into how these networks trained subordinates, how money moved, and what the underlying objectives were. Foreign devices were also seized from the premises, along with documents listing names of individuals allegedly targeted for conversion across the region.

Minors at the Centre

The ashram allegedly housed minor children, and a case under the Freedom of Religion Act has been registered. Initial investigation has indicated involvement of hundreds of individuals, whose specific roles are currently being examined. The children found at the premises have been transferred to the Child Welfare Committee in Kanker, their district of origin, while the probe continues.

The Bigger Network

This case does not exist in isolation. It appears to be a direct outcome of a wider crackdown on NGOs suspected of diverting foreign funds — received under the cover of health and education projects — toward religious conversion activities. The state government had previously signalled that strict action was imminent against such operations, and this arrest is being seen as a follow-through on that commitment.

The Law Tightens

The timing of the arrest coincides with a sweeping legislative overhaul. The Chhattisgarh Assembly recently passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, prescribing up to 20 years imprisonment for conversions involving minors, women, or SC/ST individuals — and life imprisonment for mass conversions. Cases linked to foreign funding or human trafficking now attract a fine of up to ₹25 lakh. All offences under the new law are cognisable and non-bailable.

Opposition Weighs In

The arrest has triggered political ripples. While the BJP government has framed the crackdown as a necessary move to protect tribal and vulnerable communities, opposition parties have raised concerns about the breadth of the investigation and the possibility of misuse. Authorities have confirmed that certain operational details are being kept confidential to protect the integrity of the ongoing probe.

What Comes Next

Investigators are still unravelling the full extent of the network. Multiple affiliated organisations remain under the scanner, and further arrests cannot be ruled out. The foreign funding angle is being examined under FCRA provisions, and central agencies may be roped in depending on how the evidence develops. The David Chacko case is fast becoming a test of Chhattisgarh's newly sharpened anti-conversion framework.