Case registered against 8 people, including a Christian Pastor, in Pune

Claimed drinking ‘holy water’ can cure diseases

Pastor Kenneth Paul Silve (in the circle)

Pune – A case has been registered at Kondhwa Police Station against Pastor Kenneth Paul Silve and seven others for claiming that drinking holy water could cure serious illnesses such as cancer and tumours. The complaint was lodged by a woman who is a member of an anti-superstition organisation (Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti).

1. The Christian pastor had visited a prayer hall in Kondhwa. The complainant and her friend were present at the gathering. Volunteers at the venue distributed bottled water in plastic containers, charging ₹20 per bottle.

2. They reportedly told attendees that if they were suffering from any illness, they should apply the water to the affected part of the body and that doing so would reduce or alleviate the ailment.

3. The pastor stated, “Place your right hand on the part of your body affected by illness. God will heal you of any disease, including cancer and tumours.”

4. The complainant and her friend recorded the event on their mobile phones. According to the complaint, female volunteers at the venue objected to the filming, prevented them from recording, pushed them, and deleted the footage from their phones. The Police subsequently registered a case against the pastor and seven others under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, along with other relevant legal provisions.