Ambala Court Hands Down Jail Term in Church Vandalism Case

Ambala, March 29, 2026: In a judgment underscoring the importance of safeguarding communal harmony, a court in Ambala has sentenced two men to two years’ imprisonment for vandalising a statue of Jesus Christ at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in December 2021.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Akshay Arora pronounced the verdict against Sandeep Kumar and Ravinder Singh, rejecting their plea for leniency despite their claim of being sole breadwinners. The court ruled that the gravity of the offence warranted firm punishment.

The incident took place in the early hours of December 26, 2021, just after Christmas celebrations, when the statue of the Redeemer at the church entrance was damaged. Initially attributed to unidentified miscreants, subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the accused, one of whom is a government employee.

The court convicted the two under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 153-A (promoting enmity) read with Section 34, along with charges of house-trespass and defiling a place of worship. The sentences under various sections will run concurrently.

In his judgment, Magistrate Arora observed that the act was aimed at inciting hostility against the Christian community and posed a threat to peaceful coexistence. He stressed that such offences, particularly when committed by a public servant, are unacceptable and do not merit probation.

“The crime is serious… punishment must be deterrent,” the court stated, noting that acts disturbing public tranquillity cannot be treated lightly.

In addition to the prison term, both convicts have been fined ₹10,000 each. They have been granted bail for one month to file an appeal before a higher court. If no relief is obtained, they are required to surrender by April 8 to serve their sentence.

The Christian community in Ambala had responded to the 2021 incident with restraint, choosing not to protest but instead placing trust in the judicial process. The verdict is being seen as a reaffirmation of the rule of law and a clear message that offences undermining communal harmony will be met with decisive legal action.

Courtesy: A.J. Philip (Facebook)

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