Pune: The court of additional sessions judge AS Gandhi on Wednesday granted ad interim anticipatory bail to UK national Pankaj James Devnoor, booked in a case of alleged attempt to promote religious conversion during a programme in Guruwar Peth.The court directed that, in the event of his arrest, Devnoor be released on ad-interim anticipatory bail on executing a personal recognisance bond and surety bond of Rs1 lakh. The main anticipatory bail application is yet to be decided. The court has issued a notice to the investigating officer and the state for their say on it. The next date of hearing is Aug 25.The court directed Devnoor to visit the police station concerned every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 1pm, and whenever called by the investigating officer through written requisition, until the main application was decided. It restrained him from leaving India without prior permission of the court and from directly or indirectly inducing, threatening or promising any person acquainted with the case to dissuade them from disclosing facts to the court or the police. The court also directed Devnoor not to engage in any “religious activity or cultural programmes, etc” during the period covered by the interim order.Devnoor was booked in a case registered at Khadak police station on August 9 under Section 23(B) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and sections 3(1)(a)(iii), (v), (viii), 9(1) and 11(1)(2) of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026. The investigation is under way.The FIR was lodged based on a complaint of autorickshaw driver Amit Bhosale. He alleged that he saw a social media post of Devnoor about a programme in Guruwar Peth on Aug 7. According to the FIR, Devnoor used Hindu terms and devotional instruments, including kirtan, sant, mauli, taal, veena and tabla, while preaching Christianity before around 80-100 people, with an alleged intention to attract Hindus towards Christianity.In his bail plea, Devnoor denied the allegations. He contended that the programme was open to all and the complainant attended it voluntarily after coming across the social media post. He also claimed that no specific act of deceit, misrepresentation or fraudulent means was attributed to him.
