Amnesty International (AI) India shut its operations in Bharat in September 2020. This decision came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) froze the organization’s accounts. An FIR was filed by CBI on charges of violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The ED had filed an ECIR (equivalent to an FIR) alleging money laundering and froze all of Amnesty’s bank account. The government has stated that Amnesty International was never registered in Bharat under the FCRA which is needed for receiving foreign donations.
As per the Business Today report:
Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a provisional attachment order to attach movable properties of Amnesty International India worth Rs 17.66 Crores. The attachment order, issued under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), is for attaching bank accounts of Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd and Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) as both the entities have allegedly acquired the ‘proceeds of crime’ and layered the same in the form of various movable properties.
ED initiated an investigation against Amnesty International India, IAIT, Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT), and Amnesty International South Asia Foundation (AISAF) on the basis of FIR registered by CBI, EOU-IV, New Delhi under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Foreign Contributions Regulatory Act (FCRA), 2010.
It was found in the investigation that upon cancellation of FCRA license to Amnesty International India Foundation Trust by the Government of India, Amnesty entities adopted a new method to receive money from abroad. For example, Amnesty International UK sent Rs. 51.72 crore to AIIPL in the guise of export of services and foreign direct investment. However, no documentary proof, such as invoices and copies of the agreement for the export, was furnished by AIIPL to the authorized dealer banks.
(Featured Image Source: Business Today)
Did you find this article useful? We’re a non-profit. Make a donation and help pay for our journalism.
HinduPost is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinions on issues concerning Hindu society, subscribe to HinduPost on Telegram.