Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court has refused to quash an FIR registered under the state’s anti-conversion law against Asha supervisor Namrata Macwan, who is accused of propagating Christianity among her Hindu subordinates and allegedly compelling them to attend a religious programme.Macwan was booked by Khambhat Rural police under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act after an ASHA worker alleged that Macwan and four others criticised idol worship, made workers read Bible and Christian literature, and watch videos promoting Christianity.The complainant alleged that Macwan threatened to reduce wages if the workers did not comply and invited them to a religious event in Vadodara by claiming it was a departmental meeting. The alleged incidents took place between 2022 and 2024, and the FIR was filed in Nov 2025.Police later filed a chargesheet, stating that Macwan’s family was associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses of India and had received more than Rs 30 crore from the organisation.Macwan moved HC arguing that she is a Jehovah’s Witness by faith and that propagation of faith was protected under Article 25 of the Constitution. Her counsel contended that there was no force, allurement, fraud, or attempt at conversion; that the complainant lacked locus to complain on behalf of others. It was also argued that prosecution was barred for want of sanction under Section 6 of the Act.She further contended that the complaint was filed more than a year after the alleged incidents and was motivated by personal vendetta, as she had pointed out deficiencies in the complainant’s work.The state govt opposed the petition and submitted that evidence gathered during the probe showed a cognisable offence.After the hearing, Justice M K Thakker said, “If one would peruse the material of investigation which suggest that the applicant targeted economically weaker persons, took advantage of their financial circumstances, propagated Christianity by criticising idol worship in the Hindu religion by closing doors of rooms, and highlighted the perceived benefits of conversion through the experiences narrated by persons present at the Vadodara programme, prima facie disclose the commission of cognisable offences under the provisions of Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 (sic).”HC dismissed Macwan’s petition, but permitted her to raise “all permissible contentions” before the trial court.
