A man from Georgia has been charged with sending a threatening letter to a spiritual mission in suburban Chicago, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago. Jimil Parmar, 33, from Lawrenceville, Georgia, faces one count of mailing a threatening communication. He was arrested last week in the Northern District of Georgia, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 2, 2025, in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta.
The complaint states that Parmar mailed a letter in July 2023 to the Sant Nirankari Mission in West Chicago, Illinois. It read, “CANCEL US CANADA TOUR IMMIDIATELY (sic) SRS ATTACK PLANNED.” This coincided with a visit from the Mission’s spiritual leader, Satguru Mata Sudiksha Ji Maharaj, who was touring the United States and Canada during that period, with scheduled appearances in the Chicago and Atlanta regions.
Similar letters were reportedly received by at least four other Sant Nirankari Missions in the United States during the same month, as per the complaint. A federal investigation led by the FBI continues to be active.
Announcing the complaint and arrest were Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The FBI’s Atlanta Field Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kavitha J. Babu is representing the government.
“When a threat of mass violence occurs, our Office will find, arrest, and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law,” stated U.S. Attorney Boutros. He emphasized the Office’s dedication to holding accountable those who seek to intimidate and instill fear in the community.
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge DePodesta remarked, “The subject’s alleged actions serve as a disturbing reminder of the hatred that many marginalized people encounter simply because of their beliefs.” He extended appreciation to the FBI Atlanta Field Office and law enforcement partners striving to ensure community safety.
The charge in the complaint is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. It is important to note that a complaint is not a proof of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent, entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
