Charity or Scam? Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Claims to be a Charitable Organization. But is it a Lie?

This is a partial list of 1,142 India charities. I don’t see Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat on this list, do you?

By Karen Jonson (Rishika)

Published: 10 January 2026

Collecting money for charity or elaborate buildings?

Should a Hindu organization that claims to be dedicated to charity be spending multiple millions of dollars (perhaps even billions) to build an elaborate, so-called “Hindu Heritage Experience Centre”? Not to mention the cost of lavish temple complexes in all three of its ever-expanding locations in India. 

Based on my investigation, my ex-cult, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, is spending big bucks on promoting the organization as a charity. If you do a search on JKP charity, you’ll see page after page of websites — all created by them. Here is one of the newest. I can tell this website was created by a professional, and likely very expensive firm, because, design-wise, it’s much better than their scores of other websites. 

But it’s filled with lies — lies that would take a whole book to expose. I will gradually expose the lies in a series of blog posts on what I believe is JKP’s long-running charity scam. The goal of the scam is simply to get you to give them as much money as possible, thinking you’ll be helping sick people get medical care in their “hospitals” or helping poor children get education in their “schools.” 

So how is JKP funding its large and lavish temple properties then?

Also, having so many websites on charity, which all basically say the same thing is excessive. It begs the question: How many websites does one organization need to communicate its message. 

(The answer: Real charities need only one website. But having multiple websites is part of JKP’s scheme to dominate the internet and bury the truth — including the truthful blog posts that I write to help expose the corruption. Having multiple charity websites is a big clue that they are not doing legitimate charity — it’s purely scammy behavior — along with other signs of illegitimacy I discovered in my research. Read on.)

When is a charity not a real charity in India? 

According to the Council on Foundations, “In India, a charity is not considered ‘real’ if it does not primarily exist for charitable purposes, like relief of the poor, education, medical relief, or the advancement of any other object of general public utility as defined in Section 2(15) of the Income Tax Act. 

“Additionally, if a charity’s governing documents allow the use of its income or assets for non-charitable purposes, or if it benefits a specific religious community or caste, it may not be considered a genuine charity. Furthermore, charities must maintain proper accounts of their receipts and expenditures.”

What is the definition of a charity in India?

In India, the definition of charitable specifies that an organization’s PRIMARY purpose is:

• Relief of the poor through three avenues:
  • Education
  • Medical relief
  • Advancement of any other object of general public utility

In India, factors that disqualify an organization from calling itself a charity include:

• Non-charitable purpose: If the organization’s primary purpose is not one of the four listed above, it may not be considered a legitimate charity. 
• Permitted use of assets: If the charity’s governing documents allow its income or assets to be used for purposes other than charitable activities, it may be deemed illegitimate. 
• Benefit to specific groups: Charities that exist primarily to benefit a particular religious community or caste may not qualify as genuine public charities. 
• Lack of transparency: Charities that do not maintain proper accounts of their income and expenses are suspicious. 
• Exclusion of religious worship: Organizations whose sole purpose is religious teaching or worship are not considered charitable under the Income Tax Act. 

Further, regulations state that “charities operating in India should prioritize transparency, accountability, and legal compliance to build trust and maximize their impact.” Just try to find anything legitimately documented about JKP’s charitable work, including on respectable apps, like Charity Navigator. I tried, and I could not find anything legitimate anywhere. If you find some legitimate about JKP’s charity work that they have not written themselves, please send it to me. 

What about donations from foreign entities?

One of the biggest donors to JKP for over the past 30+ years has been a business operation running in the United States of America. Without “donations” from this business, JKP would never have been able to build so many lavish temple complexes. Many devotees reading this article know exactly who I am talking about. If you don’t know and want to know, contact me and I will fill you in on what I believe is a scammy U.S. business operation funding JKP. 

Here is an official statement regarding India-based organizations receiving donations from parties outside of India: “They should also be aware of regulations regarding foreign funding and tax exemptions, ensuring they adhere to all relevant laws and guidelines.”

For example, for a charity to receive foreign funding legitimately, the organization must be registered with the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). The FCRA regulates foreign contributions and ensures they are used for the intended charitable purposes. 

What are India-based charities’ other legal requirements?

The key requirements of operating charities in India, according to a charity called Smile India Trust, are:

• Legal framework: Charities in India can be registered as public charitable trusts, societies, or Section 8 companies. Each structure has specific regulations and requirements. 
• Income tax exemptions: Charities can seek exemptions under Section 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act. 12A registration provides income tax exemption, while 80G registration allows donors to claim tax deductions for their contributions. 
• Financial transparency and accountability: Maintaining transparent financial records and adhering to best practices in governance is crucial for building trust and credibility. Regularly updating stakeholders about the charity’s activities and impact is also important. 
• Fundraising guidelines: Charities should familiarize themselves with the FCRA guidelines if they plan to raise funds from foreign sources. They should also comply with all relevant regulations to avoid legal issues. 
• Impact measurement: Charities should focus on measuring and reporting their impact to demonstrate the effectiveness of their programs and attract continued support. 

How to determine if JKP is a fake charity organization 

According to the Smile India Trust, following these tips can help ensure you’re giving money to a legitimate charity in India.

Check for:

• 12A/80G certificates
• NGO Darpan registration
• GuideStar India listing

Look for:

• Audited financial reports, including discharge reports
• Impact data, including case studies about people given charity
• Transparency (for example, annual reports and physical presence)

Verify details on third-party platforms, such as:

• NGO Darpan
• GiveIndia
• Charities Aid Foundation
• Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology
• Credibility Alliance

Also, check tax deductibility: You must determine whether the donations you make to JKP are deductible under Section 80(g) of the Income Tax Act.

Be careful about giving cash: Generally, an NGO accepts payments online, in cash or cheque. If JKP requests only cash donations, it’s likely to be hiding the funds from the government.

Follow up on your investment: Legitimate charities will report back on how exactly your donations were spent. 

By the way, many charitable organizations send thank you messages to their donors. Have you received a thank you from JKP? I never did and I gave a lot of money when I was a devotee.

If you suspect charity fraud, report it

Giving to help people in need is a wonderful thing. But if your generous donations are not used for the purpose you intended, you can report the organization to authorities here: 

• Local police — for general fraud in each jurisdiction
• Charity commissioner — if applicable
• Registrar of Societies — for registration and governance issues
• Ministry of Home Affairs — cybercrime portal for online/digital fraud 
• IRS (Internal Revenue Service) — for U.S. business fraudulently giving India organizations donations

Key details to provide when reporting a fraudulent charity operation:

• Name of the alleged fraudulent charity
• Website, social media links, phone numbers used
• Bank account details and payment methods used
• Date, time, and nature of the fraudulent activity
• Any evidence (screenshots, receipts, etc.)

Of course, in the case of JKP, actually sanctioning them for their scam could be difficult. They have a long history of buying off officials — from government to law enforcement to media — ironically, with their followers’ donations. The best action is to stop giving them your hard-earned money.  

If you want to actually help people in need in India, do a little research to find a legitimate charitable organization. 

If you have additional information to share about JKP’s charity activities, please send it to me for my reports.

Copyright © 2012-2026 Karen Jonson/RishikaXcult. All rights reserved. No part of this blog post may be copied or duplicated without the express permission of the author.