ED, Jaipur Zonal Office has conducted search operations on 21.08.2026 at 2 premises across Jaipur under FEMA, 1999, in connection with misutilization of foreign donations of more than Rs. 2 Crore received without having FCRA registration and other than declared purpose. During the search operations, various incriminating documents and digital devices were seized.
Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jaipur Zonal Office has conducted search operations on 21.08.2026 at 2 premises across Jaipur under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA, 1999) in connection with misutilization of foreign donations of more than Rs. 2 Crore received without having FCRA registration and other than declared purpose.
ED initiated investigation under provisions of FEMA, 1999, based on information/intelligence to the extent that one Pastor Ravi Mohan Pahadiya, a Protestant Missionary affiliated with Hope Ministry, is illegally receiving foreign funds to the tune of Rs. 2.20 Crore (approx.), primarily from a USA based donor namely Thomas Eugene Lynch, for proselytization and conversion activities among SC-Valmiki/ ST-Bhill communities in Jaipur and tribal dominated South Rajasthan respectively.
Investigation revealed that Ravi Mohan Pahadiya and his wife Gunjan Sharma received total foreign funds to the tune of Rs. 2.34 Crore (approx.) mainly by showing purpose of Business and management consultancy & public relations services and Inward remittance from Indian non-residents towards family maintenance and savings, out of which most of the funds was received from Thomas E Lynch, a USA based Donar.
During the search operations, various incriminating documents and digital devices were seized. Further, it is revealed that Ravi Mohan Pahadiya has received huge foreign funds of Rs. 2.88 Crore 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 organizing meetings/religious gathering for proselytization activities among the underprivileged/tribal people of various states on their instructions.
Further investigation is under progress.
Radhika Goyal is Author of Taxconcept Gurugram head office, for deeply reported tax, gst and income tax articles on issues that matter. He splits her time between New Delhi and Bengaluru, and has worked as a reporter, a podcaster and an editor for publications across India.