The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation into alleged Christian Conversion Funding in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer after tracing around ₹5.10 crore in foreign funds received by two local residents from a Belgium-based organisation. The agency conducted searches at two premises linked to Jaisalmer residents Deu Ram and Gyan Chand, alleging that the money was received without the required Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration and was subsequently used for purposes different from those declared to banks.
The searches were conducted by the ED’s Jaipur Zonal Office under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. According to the agency, its investigation began after intelligence inputs indicated that foreign funds were allegedly being received by Deu Ram for proselytisation-related activities. Further examination of financial transactions allegedly showed that Ram and his associate Gyan Chand received approximately ₹5.10 crore from abroad, with a substantial portion reportedly originating from Amar ASBL, an organisation based in Brussels.
The case has brought the issue of Christian Conversion Funding into sharper focus because the alleged transactions were reportedly recorded under several different purposes. The ED said the money was shown in banking records as being meant for educational services, cultural and recreational activities, commission-agent services, employee remuneration, and inward remittances from non-resident Indians for family maintenance and savings. Investigators are examining whether these descriptions accurately reflected how the funds were actually used.
Amar ASBL, according to information cited by the ED, was established in Brussels in 2011 and is managed by Belgian nationals Jose Goffinet and his son Salian Goffinet. The agency has alleged that although the organisation has operated in Jaisalmer for roughly 14 to 15 years, it does not have a registered trust or NGO in India. Instead, its activities in the region were allegedly conducted through Deu Ram and Gyan Chand.
The organisation has publicly described its work as supporting the education of children in India. According to its website, the initiative began after Belgian visitors met a family in Jaisalmer whose young daughter reportedly needed assistance with school expenses. The initiative subsequently expanded to support more children. The ED is now examining whether the declared charitable and educational activities corresponded with the actual financial transactions and activities carried out in the region.
At the centre of the Christian Conversion Funding allegations is the ED’s claim that foreign donations were allegedly used beyond their declared purposes. The agency has said Deu Ram received the money without FCRA permission and that approximately ₹2.60 crore of the total amount was withdrawn in cash. Investigators also alleged that proper books and financial records concerning the receipt and expenditure of the foreign funds were not maintained.
The ED is also examining the alleged relationship between the Belgian organisation and local communities. According to the agency, Jose and Salian Goffinet visit Jaisalmer annually for several weeks, meet parents and relatives of children associated with the initiative, and participate in meetings and religious gatherings. The agency has alleged that these activities were connected with efforts to influence cultural and religious beliefs. These remain investigative allegations and have not been established by a court.
The investigation into Christian Conversion Funding also widened after banks allegedly declined further foreign remittances into the accounts of Deu Ram and Gyan Chand. The ED said attempts were subsequently made to route funds through the personal bank accounts of other people connected with them in Jaisalmer. During the searches, investigators reportedly recovered documents and digital evidence that are now being examined as part of the ongoing probe.
The financial trail is particularly significant because the ED is investigating both the legality of receiving foreign funds and their alleged utilisation. The agency’s findings could determine whether the transactions amounted to violations of foreign-exchange or foreign-contribution regulations and whether additional financial or criminal proceedings are warranted.
The case involving Christian Conversion Funding comes amid broader scrutiny of foreign donations allegedly linked to proselytisation activities in Rajasthan. The ED had also conducted an earlier search in Jaipur in a separate case involving allegations that a pastor received more than ₹2 crore from a US-based donor for proselytisation activities. The two cases are separate investigations, and the available reports do not establish a connection between them.
For now, the Jaisalmer investigation remains at the evidence-gathering stage. The ED has not announced a final determination regarding the alleged misuse of the ₹5.10 crore. The Christian Conversion Funding allegations will therefore depend on the financial records, digital evidence and other material recovered during the searches, as well as the explanations provided by the individuals and organisation concerned.
The investigation highlights the scrutiny faced by cross-border charitable funding arrangements when foreign money enters India through individuals or entities without the regulatory permissions required under Indian law. As the ED continues examining the transactions, the central questions will be where the money ultimately went, whether the declared purposes were genuine, and whether any laws governing foreign contributions and foreign exchange were violated.
