CBI Raids 40 Places in Crackdown on NGOs

The CBI is conducting a major countrywide operation against Union Home Ministry officials, NGO representatives and middlemen for allegedly facilitating violations of rules in receiving foreign donations.

The coordinated operation over the alleged breaches of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act is going on at around 40 locations including in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mysore and some places in Rajasthan.

People familiar with the development said searches are being conducted at 40 locations in several places including Delhi, Chennai, Mysore, Coimbatore and Rajasthan to nab representatives of non-government organisations (NGOs), middlemen and public servants including officials of FCRA division of MHA among others.

The action is being taken on a tip-off from the Union home ministry, which grants licences to NGOs to receive foreign funding.

It is alleged that certain public servants in FCRA division, in connivance with NGOs, were facilitating illegal clearances of licences, which allow them to receive and use funding received from foreign donors, in lieu of bribes.

Several individuals including half-a-dozen government officials are being questioned by CBI in this connection.

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