The Jaipur Zonal Office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted search operations at two locations in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on 19 September 2026, targeting the alleged misuse of foreign donations worth approximately ₹5.10 crore received from a Belgium-based entity without mandatory registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The searches were carried out under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, based on intelligence inputs about the alleged channelling of foreign funds to influence vulnerable sections of society.

Who Is Under Scrutiny

Investigators identified Deu Ram, a Jaisalmer resident, and his associate Gyan Chand as the primary recipients of approximately ₹5.10 crore in foreign remittances. According to the ED, the funds were largely declared as payments for educational services, cultural and recreational activities, and family maintenance or savings from non-resident Indians — descriptions the agency alleges were misdeclared.

A substantial portion of the remittances was reportedly received from Amar ASBL, a Brussels-based non-profit organisation established in 2011 and managed by Belgian nationals Jose Goffinet and his son Salian Goffinet. Despite allegedly operating exclusively in Jaisalmer for the past 14 to 15 years, Amar ASBL has reportedly neither registered a trust nor set up an NGO in India.

What ED Recovered and Alleged

During the searches, officials recovered incriminating documents and digital records. The agency alleged that nearly ₹2.60 crore was withdrawn in cash from bank accounts linked to the two men, and that no proper books of accounts or financial records were maintained for the receipt or utilisation of the foreign funds.

Investigators further alleged that a portion of the funds was diverted for personal expenditure, while the remainder was used to influence the cultural and religious beliefs of vulnerable communities under the cover of providing educational support to children. The ED also noted that Jose Goffinet and Salian Goffinet allegedly visited Jaisalmer annually, interacting with families of beneficiary children and organising meetings and religious gatherings.

How the Funds Were Routed

According to the agency, the foreign funds were routed through multiple purpose codes — including family maintenance, educational services, cultural and recreational services, commission agent services, and employee compensation — even though no such services were allegedly rendered to the Belgian organisation. This is not an uncommon structuring method in FEMA-linked cases, where layering through diverse purpose codes is used to obscure the true nature of transactions.

Notably, after banks reportedly stopped accepting foreign remittances into the accounts of Deu Ram and Gyan Chand, the ED alleged that efforts were made to route subsequent funds through the personal bank accounts of other associates in Jaisalmer. This points to a pattern of deliberate evasion even after regulatory scrutiny had begun, investigators claimed.

Background and What Comes Next

FCRA compliance has been under tightened scrutiny across India in recent years, with multiple NGOs and individuals facing investigation for receiving foreign funds without proper registration or for misrepresenting the purpose of remittances. This case adds to a growing list of ED actions under FEMA that run parallel to the Home Ministry's FCRA enforcement machinery.

The ED confirmed that further investigation is underway. Formal charges, asset attachment proceedings, or summons to the named individuals could follow, depending on the outcome of the ongoing probe.