Amnesty International used commercial tools to bypass FCRA: CBI

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Amnesty International India Private Limited (AIIPL) allegedly employed commercial means to unlawfully circumvent the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

On Friday, the CBI conducted raids in Bengaluru and Delhi to ascertain these claims.

After a complaint received by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the CBI registered a case against AIIPL and Indians for Amnesty International Trust amongst many on November 5.

As per the MHA, Amnesty India undertook actions that were "not commensurate to the activities of a for-profit company but constituted activities either prohibited or regulated under FCRA".

Additionally, ANI said that "international [UK] invested Rs 10 crore as FDI in Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, by subscribing to the Debentures". 

Allegedly, many entities received foreign contribution amounting to as much as Rs 36 crores from Amnesty International through AIIPL. "This amount was allegedly utilised by Indians for Amnesty International Trust as security for obtaining Overdraft from Banks and the funds were used by trusts of Amnesty India for carrying out NGO activities that were in violation of the provisions of FCRA'', ANI added.

The FCRA was enacted by the Parliament in 2010 to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution by certain individuals or associations or companies and to prohibit acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution for any activities detrimental to the national interest.

(With inputs from ANI)