Report of investigation
Administrative page
United States Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Report of Investigation
Administrative Page
Title
RAJNEESH, Bhagwan Shree
aka RAJNEESH, Chandra Mohan
File Number
A24 404 461
Report Number
1
Date
11/19/81
Place
P00
Control Office
P00
Central Office and Regional References
C0 893-C (ELC), 10/7/81; NRO IDR – BHAGWAN
Type of Investigation
Reportable
General – Miscellaneous
Date and Place of Birth
12/11/31; India
Nationality
India
Date, Place and Manner of Entry
6/1/81; NYC; Temporary Visitor
Distribution
1 – CO Inv – all ex (thru NRO Inv)
1 – COEXM – all ex (for information
1 – NRO Inv – all ex
1 – P00 50/88 – all ex
1 – File A18 473 952 (Sheela Silverman)
File A24 404 461 – all ex
Reviewed and Approved
Date
11/20/81
Place
Portland, Oregon
Signature
[signed]
Name and Title
Charles L. Stevenson, Supervisory Crim. Inv.
Reviewed and Approved
Date
11/21/81
Place
Portland, Oregon
Signature
[signed]
Name and Title
Carl R. Houseman, Deputy District Director
Approved (Regional Office)
P00 11/19/81
A24 404 461
Status of Investigation: COMPLETED
Investigation based on Northern Region memo dated October 20, 1981, IDR SHREE RAJNEESH BHAGWAN, requesting appropriate inquiry into SUBJECT's alleged “nefarious” activities in order NRO might respond to a letter from [redacted] dated October 13, 1981.
Comment
Source P-1 is the Oregon State Police, Salem, Oregon.
The complainant in this matter [redacted] requested that the Service not reveal her as the source of the complaint. Accordingly, the specific information that would tend to identify [redacted]
[redacted] a native of the United States and citizen [redacted] She was admitted to the United States as a fourth preference immigrant at New York, New York on [redacted] The file relating to [redacted] does not indicate the date and manner of her loss of United States citizenship. The file shows that she was issued a British passport [redacted] and travelled on the same passport. [redacted]
Although the immediate investigation is completed for case file purposes, a subject file has been created at the Portland office in anticipation of continued investigation in the overall matter. That file has been assigned a number of P00 50/88 under the title RAJNEESH MEDITATION CENTER, ANTELOPE, OR.
The trip made by writer to the Antelope, Oregon “ashram” was made in company with Customs investigators. Customs officers held a warrant for MARIO PIRRI, A22 752 483, under indictment for conspiracy to import narcotics and export currency. PIRRI was believed to have had contact with the Antelope “ashram” recently. Writer was not identified as an immigration officer during the visit.
It may be of some interest that one SHANNON JO RYAN, United States citizen, has been a member of SUBJECT's group since early 1981. She is the daughter of Congressman LEO J. RYAN, who was killed at the outset of the “Jonestown Massacre” in Guyanna in November 1978. When interviewed by a reporter in January 1981, SHANNON RYAN stated that SUBJECT's followers would kill themselves or others if SUBJECT asked them to do so. SHANNON RYAN was a resident of the Antelope “ashram” as of September 16, 1981 according to voter registration records.
In the opinion of writer SUBJECT and/or his closest associates are opportunistic charlatans deriving a handsome income from his “disciples”. In brief, SUBJECT appears to absolve his followers from the restraints of personal responsibility in exchange for substantial amounts of money. Many of the members appear to be middle-class, relatively affluent Westerners. The hierarchy of the organization seems comprised of shrewd, dedicated persons with considerable funds at their disposal. Although great efforts are made by these persons to present their group as peaceable and law abiding, writer believes that they could become very deceptive and intractable if it were to their advantage.