Rashtra Jyoti conducted a field investigation in a village in Bihar’s Saran district after receiving repeated complaints of a fraudulent faith-healing conversion racket.
The racket is targeting poor, and Dalit and backward caste families, and involves a pastor who claims he is from Nepal. The pastor is now known in the area as “Paaniwale Baba”.
Our team visited the village, spoke to residents and documented testimonies. This report establishes the existence of the racket and its impact on marginalised communities.
Findings
- We collected videos of the weekly gatherings held on Thursdays held just outside Lahore Chapra village near Chapra in Saran. These gatherings are large events organized in open fields with tents and sound systems. As per locals, these have begun witnessing attendance of over 5,000 people.
- These gatherings, that have been going on for months, are organised by a pastor and his accomplices.
- A few months ago, the pastor began preaching in the area through a ground team that residents must go to him with water bottles. And that by taking Jesus’s name, he will infuse the water with such miraculous properties that, when consumed, would heal serious diseases like cancer.
- In an interview to a local journalist, the pastor said that he is from Nepal and his name is Vikas Choudhary. He added that he stands by his claims that he can make water magical by taking Jesus’s name and that he gives “guarantee” of treating diseases with that water in three months.
- Attendees are instructed to bring plastic bottles filled with water.
- During these sessions, Pastor Vikas chants over the bottles, claiming the water now holds healing properties.
- Villagers are told this water can cure cancer, kidney failure, gallstones, and other serious diseases within three months.
- Victims are asked to make monetary offerings as part of the ritual.
- Independent local media have already flagged the operation as linked to a Christian proselytism group.
Testimonies collected by Rashtra Jyoti:
- Harendra Rai from Laher Chapra, who works as a farmer, told Rashtra Jyoti: “My mother was very sick. We were told the Baba could heal her. We had to pay some money. He gave us ‘blessed’ water. But nothing changed – her condition is the same. This is fraud. But many still go to him.”
- Om Prakash Kumar, also from Laher Chapra, said: “My grandmother’s health was poor. We tried the Baba’s water as advised. It has been 20 days, but there has been no improvement at all.”
Pattern of Deception
- This case is not isolated but part of a broader conversion-linked fraud network.
- Poor and Dalit families are lured away from medical treatment, their faith in their traditions eroded, and dependence created on the pastor.
- This lays the groundwork for religious conversions by associating healing with the name of Jesus and missionary-linked networks.
Conclusion
The field investigation confirms the existence of a fraudulent miracle-healing racket in Saran, run by Pastor Vikas alias “Paniwale Baba”. His activities are misleading poor families, denying them proper medical care, and pushing them towards a conversion agenda.
Rashtra Jyoti Action
We have sent official complaints to Bihar police, Saran police and Saran DM. Also flagged the issue on Twitter, where then official handle of Bihar Police asked Sarab police to act. Further, Rashtra Jyoti has escalated the matter to National Human Rights Commission, citing grave concerns of violations of human rights of poor and Dalit residents by misleading them into going away from medical care and instead fall deeper into superstitions.
UPDATE: The racket has been shut down by Saran police after Rashtra Jyoti’s complaint to NHRC.
