An independent church in Maharashtra was demolished during a late-night operation by civic authorities just hours before a local court was due to consider the matter, with church members alleging that officials proceeded despite a stay order.
The Jesus Is Lord Church in Rajwade Nagar, in the Kalewadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad, was pulled down in the early hours of 7 September, according to members of the congregation. They said officials from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation refused to examine documents relating to the court proceedings before carrying out the demolition.
Rose Mathews, a church member, said three JCB excavators were used during the operation in the presence of a large police contingent. She also alleged that officials prevented members from recording what was taking place.
Church members said they had presented the relevant court papers to the officials but that these were not considered. They also questioned why the demolition was carried out shortly before the scheduled court hearing and said they had not received the advance notice they believed was required by law.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said the action formed part of a wider operation against unauthorised construction in Rajwade Nagar, which comes under its G Ward office. According to the civic body, about 7,400 square feet of unauthorised structures were demolished during the operation.
The municipal authority did not address the church members’ claims concerning the alleged stay order or the court hearing scheduled for later that day.
The church had been constructed several years ago with small contributions from members of the congregation. Many of those attending were from low-income families.
Samuel Joseph, another church member, said that between 20 and 25 members gathered at the site and prayed before the demolition began. He said they had not been able to remove furniture and other belongings from the building before it was destroyed.
Joseph also alleged that the church had been singled out while other structures described as unauthorised remained standing in the area. This claim contrasts with the municipal corporation’s statement that the demolition was part of a broader action against unauthorised structures.
Roy Mathews, a Christian activist based in Maharashtra, connected the incident with what he described as growing anti-Christian sentiment in the state. He said independent churches and prayer halls were facing increasing pressure following the introduction of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026.
The law, which came into force on 28 August, criminalises religious conversion carried out through force, fraud or allurement. Critics have expressed concern that its provisions could be misused to make allegations against Christian prayer meetings and other religious activities.
Mathews alleged that local authorities were increasingly using administrative measures against Christian institutions. He said the demolition was part of what he described as a wider pressure on independent churches and prayer halls.
The church members’ allegations about the demolition and the court proceedings remain disputed, while the civic authorities have maintained that the operation was aimed at unauthorised construction. The incident has nevertheless raised fresh concerns among Christian activists about the treatment of independent congregations in Maharashtra.
Based on reporting by UCA News.
