INDIA. Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 36 people on Wednesday, including Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials and a National Informatics Centre (NIC) official, in a massive crackdown against officials and NGOs involved in an alleged bribery scandal involving the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
Chartered accountants and members of non-governmental organisations were among those detained. The CBI also found Rs 3.21 crore in cash and other incriminating documents during the raids. Special Judge (New Delhi) Naresh Kumar Laka ordered the accused to be held in police custody till May 14.
The CBI has filed a FIR (No RC0032022A0026 7, 7A, and 8) under sections 120B, 419,420,468,471 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 7, 7A, and 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against 36 people, including seven government officers from the MHA’s FCRA division, for illegally facilitating the inflow of foreign funds to NGOs.
The accused has been charged with Criminal Conspiracy, Demanding Undue Advantage from a Public Servant, Taking Undue Advantage to Influence a Public Servant by Corrupt or Illegal Means or by the Exercise of Personal Influence, Impersonation, Cheating, Forgery for Cheating, and Using a Forged Document as Genuine.
The Foreigners’ Division of the MHA houses the FCRA department, which provides NGOs authorization to receive foreign funding under the FCRA.
Based on their reports, the division is in charge of renewing and revoking the licence.
Over 16,800 NGOs are registered under the FCRA, with approximately 20,000 losing their licence in the last ten years. Over 12,500 of them failed to file renewal returns on time. Some non-governmental organisations have been accused of accepting funding and using them for anti-India activities.
The CBI raided 40 locations throughout India on Tuesday, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mysuru (Karnataka), and other cities, for violating FCRA laws and issuing licences in exchange for payments.
Arrested officials
Parmod Kumar Bhasin (MHA, New Delhi (earlier posted at FCRA division, Gurgaon, Haryana), Alok Ranjan (MHA, New Delhi (earlier posted at FCRA division, New Delhi), Raj Kumar (FCRA division, East Delhi), Mohammed Saheed Khan (Assistant Director, FCRA, Delhi), Mohammed Ghazanfar (MHA, New Delhi (earlier posted in FCRA Division), Uma Shankar (NIC), Tushar Kanti Roy (NIC (FCRA division).
S. Rajasekaran (M/s Ganga Medical Centre and Hospital Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu), Vageesh, Chartered Accountant, Ganga Medical Centre & Hospital Pvt. Ltd. on behalf of Ganga Orthopaedic Research & Education Foundation, Coimbatore, Ms. Suguna Ravichandran, GOREF Auditor, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Pawan Kumar Sharma (operating business from Chandni Chowk, Delhi).
Ramanand Pareek (Hawala operator, Chennai), Robin Devadass ( running an NGO- The Social Project, Vellore, Tamil Nadu), Gajanand Sharma, Swapan Manna ( a representative of Srijan Foundation, Ranchi, Jharkhand), Hawala operator Vimal Tawaniya, Ranchi, Anish Selvaraj, Tiruvallur, Tamil Nadu and Chinappan Pichai Pillai (Ayries Multipurpose Social Service Society, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu).
Ramaswamy Ranganathan (Centre for Tribal & Rural Development Trust, the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu), Shafi Mohammad (Jahangirabad Educational Trust, Okhla, New Delhi), K Ponpandi Inbarasu (Chartered Accountant), Ravi Shankar Ambastha (Rohini, Delhi), Manoj Kumar B A(Secunderabad, Telangana), M/s Mansi International Private Limited (Pratap Nagar, New Delhi, Ms. Manisha Verma ( Employee of Alok Ranjan), Alfred Mohanty (Christian Life Centre Ministries, Vishakhapatnam).
Katherina Suresh Kumar (a representative of NGO Harvest India, Seetharampuram, Vijaywada), Lungawiruol Khawbung (General Secretary of the Organisation Reformed Presbyterian Church North East India, Chorachandpur, Manipur), Santosh Kumar Prasad (Director of M/s Shaurya Business Solutions Private Limited, New Delhi), Smt. Amita Chandra ( Director of M/s Shaurya Business Solutions Private Limited, New Delhi, Tenzin Lhakpa(Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh), Bishnu Mour (President, Nayi Roshni Foundation, Guwahati, Assam), Jagdish, Devesh Chandra Mishra (Hauz Khas, Delhi), and promoters of NGO Omidyar Network,(Kenya, India, USA).
The Omidyar Network is accused of sponsoring a shady organisation with the goal of implementing regime change and installing obedient governments in nations that support left-liberal ideology or promote the Left’s narrative. Omidyar Network is notable for financing numerous publications in India.
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