ED raids Jaipur pastor over Rs 2.88 crore foreign funds

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on Friday at premises linked to Jaipur-based pastor Ravi Mohan Pahadiya under FEMA, alleging he received foreign funds without FCRA permission for proselytisation and conversion among SC-Valmiki and ST-Bhill communities in Jaipur and tribal South Rajasthan. The ED said the pastor and his wife received about Rs 2.34 crore, mostly from US-based donor Thomas Eugene Lynch, shown as consultancy fees but used for personal expenses, foreign travel and property.

Hindustan Times reports that the ED alleged Pahadiya received total foreign donations of Rs 2.88 crore without FCRA licence. Times Now adds that the ED will share findings with the CBI for a potential case against US missionary Timothy Initiative, linked to two UAPA FIRs in Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. The government introduced a new FCRA Bill in March and notified FCRA Rules 2026 in June, which bar proselytisation and foreign nationals as key functionaries.

Opposition parties, civil society and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India have argued the amendments would give the government broad control and affect charitable institutions, Hindustan Times reports. The FCRA Bill has been sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.