Advertisement
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Oxfam India (OXFAM India) and its officials for allegedly violating the provisions of India’s foreign funding rules. A case has been registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). An FIR has been registered on the orders of the Union Home Ministry.
Oxfam India is alleged to have violated FCRA in transactions worth Rs 12.71 lakh in the year 2019-20. It is alleged that Oxfam India also engaged in irregularities in foreign transactions worth Rs 1.5 crore between 2013 and 2016.
According to the CBI, between 2013 and 2016, Oxfam India received around Rs 1.5 crore directly in its Foreign Contribution Utilization Account instead of a designated bank account. The FIR also alleged that Oxfam India gave Rs 12.71 lakh to the Center for Policy Research (CPR). He transacted in violation of the rules of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) 2010 in the financial year 2019-20.
The CBI said it took this action on a complaint from the Home Ministry. Oxfam India’s FCRA license was suspended in January last year. The Ministry of Home Affairs had accused Oxfam India of engaging in “anti-national” activities and exerting pressure through governments and institutions of other countries to pressure the Government of India for FCRA renewal.
The CBI’s FIR also mentioned that Oxfam India was planning to bypass the FCRA by transferring funds to other associations or for-profit consultancy firms. The CBI said it had seized several email records from the Oxfam India office during a search operation last week.
Oxfam India is part of Oxfam’s global confederation, which works on issues such as poverty, inequality, gender justice and climate change. The NGO has denied any wrongdoing and said it is cooperating with authorities.
