Pastor Acharya, age 32, has been imprisoned since late March after police in Kaski District falsely accused him of spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic, International Christian Concern reports.

Pastor Acharya was arrested after a video of him praying against the COVID-19 virus circulated on social media. Pastor Acharya was taken into custody on March 23 and has remained in prison ever since.

In the video, translated by Morning Star News, Pastor Acharya prayed in front of his church congregation, saying,

“Hey, corona – you go and die. May all your deeds be destroyed by the power of the Lord Jesus. I rebuke you, corona, in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. By the power or the ruler of this Creation, I rebuke you… By the power in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, corona, go away and die.”