ED raids Jaipur pastor over Rs 2.88 crore foreign funds, ‘conversion’ activities among dalits and tribals

Hamza Khan is a seasoned Correspondent for The Indian Express, specifically reporting from the diverse and politically dynamic state of Rajasthan. Based in Jaipur, he provides high-authority coverage on the state's governance, legal landscape, and social issues, directly supporting the "Journalism of Courage" ethos of the publication. Expertise Politics & Governance: Comprehensive tracking of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, including policy changes (e.g., the Right to Health Bill and Anti-Mob Lynching Bills), bypoll dynamics, and the shifting power structures between the BJP and Congress. ... Read More

ED raids Jaipur pastor over Rs 2.88 crore foreign funds, 'conversion' activities among dalits and tribals

The ED said the pastor and his wife allegedly received foreign funds by misdeclaring their purpose and without FCRA registration

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Saturday said that its Jaipur zonal office conducted search operations on Friday at two premises in Jaipur linked to a pastor. As per the ED, the pastor allegedly received foreign funds for proselytization activities among Dalit Valmiki and Tribal Bhil communities in Jaipur and southern Rajasthan.

ED officials said the searches were conducted under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, in connection with misutilisation of foreign donations of more than Rs 2 crore received without having Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration and other than declared purpose.

FCRA governs the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution received in India from a foreign source.

The ED said that the investigation was initiated based on intelligence that pastor Ravi Mohan Pahadiya, a Protestant Missionary affiliated with Hope Ministry, was illegally receiving foreign funds to the tune of Rs 2.20 crore primarily from a US-based donor namely Thomas Eugene Lynch, for proselytization and conversion activities in Jaipur and tribal dominated southern Rajasthan.

The ED investigation revealed that Pahadiya and his wife Gunjan Sharma received foreign funds to the tune of Rs 2.34 crore mainly by showing purpose of business and management consultancy and public relations services and inward remittance from non-residents Indians towards family maintenance and savings, out of which most of the funds was received from Thomas E Lynch.

During Friday’s search operations, various “incriminating documents and digital devices were seized,” ED said, adding that Pahadiya received Rs 2.88 crore foreign funds as donations without having FCRA permission by mis-declaring the purpose and ultimately used those funds for personal expenses, foreign travels, purchasing of property in his name.

“Further, it is also prima facie revealed that he is in regular touch with foreign nationals and engaged in organising meetings/religious gathering for proselytization activities among the underprivileged/tribal people of various states on their instructions,” the ED said.

Hamza Khan is a seasoned Correspondent for The Indian Express, specifically reporting from the diverse and politically dynamic state of Rajasthan. Based in Jaipur, he provides high-authority coverage on the state's governance, legal landscape, and social issues, directly supporting the "Journalism of Courage" ethos of the publication.

Politics & Governance: Comprehensive tracking of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, including policy changes (e.g., the Right to Health Bill and Anti-Mob Lynching Bills), bypoll dynamics, and the shifting power structures between the BJP and Congress. ... Read More

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