CBI puts 15 NGOs under scanner for FCRA violations

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken 15 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under its scanner for allegedly violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and may register cases against them soon.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken 15 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under its scanner for allegedly violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and may register cases against them soon.

Confirming the information, a CBI source said the agency’s initial probe is based on the reference received from the central government on the 15 NGOs, who are suspected of having violated FCRA provisions. There were “adverse reports” against the NGOs after alleged irregularities were found in their accounts during “inspections and scrutiny,” said the source.

“We are scrutinising details, including financial records pertaining to the 15 NGOs under the scanner,” said the source.

Cases pertaining to 10 other NGOs to state police agencies for further action by the government, even as accounts of 23 other NGOs were frozen as part of the crackdown on alleged FCRA violators. The source did not reveal the names of the NGOs on grounds that the verifications are still underway.

The CBI’s move against the NGOs comes over a month after it began a probe against Mumbai-based social activist Teesta Setalvad’s company Sabrang Communications and Publishing Private Limited (SCPPL) and three of its directors, for alleged acceptance of foreign contributions without registration and prior permission from the home ministry. Setalvad has however denied the allegations, claiming no rules were violated.