Chicago, IL – April 2025 — A Georgia resident has been charged with sending a threatening letter to a religious organization in suburban Chicago, prompting a federal investigation amid concerns over the safety of a touring spiritual leader.
Jimil Parmar, 33, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was arrested last week and charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of mailing a threatening communication — a federal offense punishable by up to five years in prison.
According to the complaint, Parmar allegedly sent a handwritten letter in July 2023 to the Sant Nirankari Mission in West Chicago, Illinois, stating:
“CANCEL US CANADA TOUR IMMIDIATELY [sic] SRS ATTACK PLANNED.”
The message coincided with the U.S. and Canadian tour of the group’s spiritual leader, Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj, who had planned public appearances in both the Chicago and Atlanta areas during that period.
Investigators also reported that at least four other Sant Nirankari Mission centers in the U.S. received similar or identical threatening letters around the same time. The FBI continues to lead the investigation, supported by its Atlanta and Chicago field offices.
In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois emphasized the seriousness of the allegation:
“When a threat of mass violence occurs, our Office will find, arrest, and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta added,
“The subject’s alleged actions serve as a disturbing reminder of the hatred that many marginalized people encounter simply because of their beliefs.”
Parmar is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 2, 2025, in U.S. District Court in Atlanta.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kavitha J. Babu. As with all federal charges, the allegations remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Sources:
- U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Illinois – justice.gov
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago Field Office
