CBI raids 40 locations over FCRA violations

OFFICIALS SAID ABOUT HALF A DOZEN GOVT OFFICIALS AND SOME PRIVATE PERSONS WERE APPREHENDED DURING THE RAIDS

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted raids at 40 locations across multiple cities as it started a probe into alleged collusion between government officials and non-governmental organisations (NGOS) for “illegal clearance” of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licences, people familiar with the development said.

Raids were conducted in Delhi, Mysore, Coimbatore, Chennai, and a few places in Rajasthan among others to nab representatives of NGOS, middlemen and public servants, including officials from the FCRA division of the Union home ministry, people cited above said. The premier anticorruption agency was acting on a tip-off from the MHA.

It is alleged that certain public servants in FCRA division, in connivance with NGOS and were facilitating illegal clearances of licences to allow them to receive funding from foreign donors, one of the people said.

About half a dozen government officials and some private persons were apprehended during raids and were being questioned, a senior CBI officer said, wishing not to be named.

“We have found ₹2 crore cash obtained through hawala by the suspects for FCRA clearances,” the senior officer added.

Explaining the modus operandi used, the officer said: “The representatives of NGOS got in touch with FCRA division’s officers directly, or through certain middlemen. Bribe amounts were fixed for getting a new FCRA licence, getting prior permission, assisting in renewal or revoking cancellation.”

Another officer said that at least “15 NGOS could be involved in the racket”.

“Strict disciplinary action will be taken against concerned FCRA officials based on CBI report,” said a ministry official.

Advocate Abishek Jebaraj, a Supreme Court lawyer who has appeared in FCRA matters said, “It would benefit both government and NGOS if the present FCRA is replaced with a more transparent and fair system in the country. A vast majority of NGOS which are doing good work suffer because the laws are too restrictive and at the same time some government officials taking money and granting licences to a few NGOS shows that the present laws are not particularly protecting our national interest.”