The searches were conducted at two locations in Delhi including Mander's official and residential premises, according to a CBI statement. It registered the FIR against the former IAS officer and his Delhi-based Centre for Equity Studies after conducting a preliminary enquiry on a complaint from the Home Ministry for the alleged violations of various provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).


According to the agency, the NGO had transferred Rs. 32.71 lakh and also diverted funds worth Rs 10 lakh from its FCRA account through the firm in violation of the provisions of FCRA. "The NGO had transferred Rs 32,71,915 other than salary or wages or remuneration from its FCRA account into the account of individual (s) during 2020-21 in violation of the provisions of FCRA, 2010. The NGO had also diverted funds of Rs 10 lakh from its FCRA account through the firm (s) in violation of the provisions of FCRA," it said in a statement.

Also Read: Anti-CAA propagandist Harsh Mander's FCRA license suspended by MHA

The enquiry has revealed that through its chairman Mander, the CES diverted funds from FCRA accounts in alleged violations of FCRA, the FIR has alleged.

Reacting to the CBI action, another "intellectual" Prashant Bhushan said on X, "CBI is raiding Harsh Mander's house and office. He has been one of the most gentle, humane & generous activists who has worked tirelessly for the weak and poor. He is being targeted only because he has been critical of this government. All agencies are being blatantly used to target critics."

Also Read: Home Ministry recommends CBI inquiry against Harsh Mander’s NGO Aman Biradari over FCRA violations


Thanking Bhushan, Mander said, "We must continue to join hands to defend the idea of a country of love & freedom, whatever maybe the costs."


These raids and FIR came in the aftermath of a complaint from the Union ministry of home affairs which had suspended the NGO’s FCRA licence last year. “He accepted foreign contributions amounting to over Rs 12 lakh between 2011 and 2018 as payments from the FCRA account of the CES. MHA’s report had accused the NGO of acting as conduit for transfer of foreign contribution to non-FCRA associations.

Also Read: Oxfam India, accused of funding Anti-Delhi riots, loses its FCRA license for massive violation
https://www.newsbharati.com//Encyc/2022/1/1/Oxfam-India-FCRA-Anti-Delhi-riots.html

"Enquiry has prima facie revealed that Centre for Equity Studies through its chairperson Harsh Mander diverted the funds from FCRA account in violation of FCRA. The above acts of omission and commission prima facie attract sections 35 read with 7, 8, 12(4)(a)(vi) and section 39 of FCRA," reads the FIR.