Chabad shluchim in India, Schneur Zalman (27) and Yaffa Shenoi (24) are being expelled by that country due to their “suspicious activities” the Times of India is reporting. It appears suspicions surround their decision to rent a home in the Kochi area, a costly proposition as well as the fact they two have held many meetings since their arrival in that area in March 2010.

The report states that following the attack against the Mumbai Chabad House, security officials implement special precautions and as a result, the two have been under surveillance since, including monitoring their monetary transactions. The report adds that authorities have detected similar transactions among other Israelis in that country.

Regarding the “costly rental”, 50,000 rupees monthly, the equivalent of 3,500 NIS per month or $1,000 – this seems to be at the crux of the case against the couple.

The damaging evidence includes meetings of many people in their home, some lasting for hours, obviously referring to shiurim and farbrengens. It is added that during the surveillance period, they renewed their visa, but only for an additional six months, but the Times report focuses on the exorbitant rent. The report adds that officials plan to interrogate the “suspected Israeli agents” before they are kicked out.

Chabad officials indicate the situation began as a result of the activities of the shluchim in the center of the area, activities which drew many Israelis and visitors, concerning security agencies. Efforts to explain that this is what Chabad does — working to draw people back to their religion, have been unsuccessful to date.

Rabbi Shneor Zalman Bernstein and Yaffa Shenoi told The Jerusalem Post they were stunned by the story run by the Times of India in which unnamed Indian security officials said they were secret Israeli agents that would soon be deported from the country.

“I was invited here by the Jewish community of Kochi with the full knowledge of local authorities,” said Zalman, a 27-year-old rabbi from Jerusalem. “I have no idea how they got the impression I was part of a Mossad operation.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)