Today, December 31, in a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, V.D. Satheesan, Congress leader of the opposition Kerala Assembly has sought urgent intervention regarding the detention/arrest of twelve individuals, including Father Sudhir, a priest of the CSI South Kerala Diocese, arrested by the Maharashtra Police following a complaint filed by Bajrang Dal activists.
Satheesan has registered his strong protest at the arrests in Nagpur on allegations of forced religious conversion. The letter states that twelve individuals, including Father Sudhir, a priest of the CSI South Kerala Diocese, Nagpur Mission, and his wife Mrs. Jasmine, were reportedly arrested by the Maharashtra Police following a complaint filed by Bajrang Dal activists. The arrests were made while a Christmas prayer meeting was being conducted in Nagpur at around 8.00 p.m. last night. Subsequently, those who came to the police station to enquire about the incident were also taken into custody, and cases were registered against them.
Father Sudhir, the open letter states is a native of Amaravila in Thiruvananthapuram district, has been serving in Maharashtra for the past five years. The remaining ten individuals arrested are natives of Maharashtra. The letter also states that it is learned that all the arrested persons are currently being detained at the Benoda Police Station and are likely to be produced before the court shortly. Although representatives of the CSI attempted to secure bail at the police station, they were directed to approach the court.
Satheesan states that “this incident is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns about the violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India, particularly the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion. Arresting individuals for conducting a peaceful prayer meeting is unconstitutional and contrary to the spirit of our democratic and secular values.”
“On behalf of the people of Kerala, I express my strong protest against this unjust action. I earnestly request your immediate intervention to ensure the release of all those arrested and to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.”
Arresting 12 people, including Malayalipriest Fr. Sudhir, during Christmas prayer meeting in #Nagpur based on a BajrangDal complaint is deeply disturbing. I have written to the @PMOIndia & @CMOMaharashtra, protesting this injustice& urging immediate intervention for their release pic.twitter.com/7MPRRgnXTN
— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) December 31, 2025
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