Amit Shah unleashes CBI on FCRA violators, among 14 detained

In a major crackdown on those helping non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to receive foreign donations in violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), the CBI on Tuesday raided 40 locations across the country and detained 14 people. These include officials of the Union Home Ministry Amit Shah, representatives of NGOs and middlemen.

Home Minister orders strict action

Highly placed sources said that the Home Ministry had received information that middlemen, in collusion with some lower level officials of its department, were helping NGOs illegally obtain or renew FCRA licenses. The ministry also apprised Home Minister Amit Shah of the entire development. 

Sources said that Shah directed to ensure strictest action against those involved in the case. After this, a complaint was lodge with the CBI on behalf of the ministry.

Proof of transaction of money through hawala

Highly placed CBI sources said that some employees of the Ministry of Home Affairs have also caught doing money transactions with touts. Along with this, evidence of hawala transactions worth Rs 2 crore has also found so far. Sources said that investigation has done at 40 places including Delhi, Rajasthan, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and Mysore. Those taken into custody are being interrogate. Some of these people can also be arrest on the basis of interrogation.

Large number of NGO licenses canceled

It is worth noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs has made it mandatory to follow the rules of FCRA for receiving foreign donations. The FCRA licenses of many NGOs have also canceled due to violation of rules.