Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged religious conversions has led to the registration of FIRs against nine individuals, with final findings to emerge once the chargesheet is filed.

Context

Speaking during the ongoing Monsoon Session 2026 of the Maharashtra legislature in Mumbai, CM Fadnavis stated in Marathi: 'धर्मांतर प्रकरणी एसआयटीच्या तपासाच्या आधारे 9 जणांविरुद्ध एफआयआर दाखल करण्यात आली आहे' — meaning 'Based on the SIT's investigation regarding religious conversion, FIRs have been registered against nine individuals.' He added that 'final findings will become clear once the chargesheet is filed,' signalling that the probe remains active and ongoing.

The statement was made on the floor of the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad), the upper house of the state legislature, lending it formal parliamentary weight. Such disclosures on the floor of the house are considered official government positions.

Policy Backdrop

The Maharashtra government has in prior years constituted SITs to examine complaints of alleged religious conversions, particularly in specific districts where such complaints were raised. These probes typically examine whether conversions involved inducement, coercion, or fraud — elements that can attract action under existing laws.

BJP-led state governments across India have publicly linked such SIT inquiries to enforcement of laws against forced or fraudulent conversion. Parallel actions in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reflect a broader national pattern of using dedicated investigative teams to examine conversion-related complaints, particularly in constituencies where religious demography is a politically sensitive issue.

Stakeholders and Impact

The nine individuals against whom FIRs have been registered are the most directly affected parties, though their identities and the specific districts involved remain subject to the chargesheet process. Religious groups — both those who allege inducement-based conversions and those representing communities targeted by such investigations — are key stakeholders watching the probe's outcome.

Civil liberties organisations and minority rights groups have historically raised concerns about the scope and conduct of conversion-related SIT investigations, arguing that such probes can be used to target legitimate religious activity. The government's position, as articulated by CM Fadnavis, is that the SIT is operating strictly within the framework of the law and that conclusions will be drawn only after the chargesheet is filed.

What's Next

The filing of the chargesheet will be the critical next milestone, as it will formally set out the charges against the nine accused and provide the legal basis for prosecution. CM Fadnavis indicated that the 'final findings' of the SIT will become public at that stage.

The Monsoon Session 2026 is likely to see further legislative discussion on this issue, with opposition members expected to press the government on the SIT's mandate, timeline, and the identities of the accused. The outcome of this probe could influence broader legislative conversations in Maharashtra around conversion-related regulation.