A district administration investigation has found allegations of religious conversion at St. Joseph School in Gwalior’s Badagaon area to be baseless, confirming that all 26 students at the institution were already Christians before their enrolment.
The inquiry, led by Sub-Divisional Magistrate NC Gupta, was ordered after Hindu organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP representatives, claimed that tribal children from five states were being converted at the Bishop’s Residence Complex on the school premises.
Officials discovered the students had arrived from multiple states for skill training programmes following their high school completion. Documentation including Aadhaar cards and parental affidavits verified their birth into Christian-Catholic families across Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Kerala.
“No activities related to religious conversion were found during the inspection,” officials said after the probe concluded on November 11.
The Superintendent of Police told the press that authorities had thoroughly verified all records, including marriage certificates and identification documents of the parents, establishing that no coercion was involved. Investigating officers noted that students receive religious education related to Christianity but also pursue academic degrees such as BA, BCom, or BSc in general colleges. Students maintain regular contact with their families, have access to mobile phones, and remain free to leave at any time.
“Some have become engineers, others have gone into different fields,” officials observed, emphasising that priesthood is presented as an optional career choice.
Father Harshal AX, Rector of St Joseph Seminary, issued a written statement describing the initial media reports as false and misleading. He clarified that seminarians are admitted only after presenting baptism certificates and join with full parental consent. They may leave the formation programme at any point during the 12-year study period before ordination.
“Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s ancestors gave us a place in this city to provide quality education. We have always worked to uplift children through education, not conversion,” Father Harshal said.
Following the investigation’s outcome, the school management and Christian missionary organisation demanded action against those who allegedly conspired to defame the institution. Pratap Toppo, President of the Roman Catholic Diocese of India, urged authorities to identify and act against those spreading false narratives.
“This is an attempt to defame us and spoil the atmosphere of the city. We fully support the investigation and expect strict action against the culprits,” he said.
The Media Secretary of the Diocese told Catholic Connect that both police and government officials have recognised the authenticity of the Church’s documentation. The Diocese noted that St Joseph Seminary has served the local Church for over two decades.
VHP leader Pappu Verma had earlier claimed that children from poor tribal families were brought from other states and converted. The investigation has since disproved those claims.
