Thane Rural Police have booked three individuals, including an American national, for allegedly practising banned religious activities and conducting illegal conversions in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra.

The accused, identified as Sainath Sarape, James Watson, and Manoj Kolha, were arrested and charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Foreign Nationals Act.

SP Thane Rural DS Swamy said, “An offence has been registered, which includes three accused. One of them is a foreign national… After the police custody ended, the main court sent him to judicial custody.”

The police investigation revealed that the group had been operating in the area for some time, misleading villagers under the guise of religious gatherings and prayers.

Earlier, Priyank Kanoongo, a membe

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