Foreign donations diverted for conversion activities by pastor: ED

Jaipur: A day after conducting raids at a school run by Jaipur-based pastor Ravi Pahadia and his residence, Enforcement Directorate Saturday said that it has found incriminating documents and digital evidence as part of its probe into alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) involving foreign donations of more than Rs 2.88 crore.

An ED officer said, “Pahadia got in touch with an American citizen and donor Thomas Eugene Lynch in 2015, and till date he and his wife Gunjan Sharma have received Rs 2.88 crore as donations in the name of providing education to underprivileged children but were subsequently used for religious conversion activities which is a FEMA violation.”

“Out of the total donations Pahadia has received, around Rs 2.20 crore in foreign funds, primarily from Lynch, for proselytization and conversion activities among SC-Valmiki and ST-Bhil communities in Jaipur and tribal-dominated areas of southern Rajasthan,” said an officer.

The investigation has also examined foreign funds received by Pahadia and his wife. “The couple received donations through purposes declared as business and management consultancy, public relations services and inward remittances from non-resident Indians towards family maintenance and savings,” the officer added.

During Friday’s searches, ED said, various incriminating documents and digital devices were seized. Investigators are examining the material to establish the source, routing and utilisation of the foreign funds and their alleged links with religious activities.

The agency also alleged that Pahadia remained in regular touch with foreign nationals and organised meetings and religious gatherings for proselytisation among underprivileged and tribal communities in different states on their instructions.