Two teams from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at the office and residential properties linked to renowned social activist Harsh Mander in Delhi on Friday in connection with an alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) regulations.
Sources told The Indian Express that the searches were conducted at Mander’s residence and the office premises of the Centre for Equity Studies (CES). Mander confirmed the searches, stating that the CBI had completed the search at his home, while the search at the office was still ongoing.
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Taking it X, Supreme Court lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan expressed his concerns on social media, alleging that Mander, known for his advocacy for the weak and poor, was being targeted due to his criticism of the government, he claimed that government agencies were being used to silence critics.
The Home Ministry alleged that Section 3 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act explicitly prohibits individuals like correspondents, columnists, cartoonists, editors, owners, printers, and publishers of registered newspapers from accepting foreign contributions.
However, despite this restriction, Mander has been actively writing columns and articles for newspapers and web portals.
The CBI has initiated a First Information Report (FIR) against Mander and the Centre for Equity Studies for alleged violations of various provisions of the FCRA. Mander, a former member of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council during the UPA government, is also the founder of the non-FCRA organisation Aman Biradari, according to the Home Ministry.
“A report by the Centre for Equity Studies in collaboration with Delhi Research Group and ‘Karwan-E-Mohabbat’ was published by CES in June 2020. Karwan-e Mohabbat is a campaign run under the non-FCRA association Aman Biradari Trust, which is closely associated with Centre of Equity Studies and Harsh Mander,” the Home Ministry alleged, PTI reported.
Dating back to 2021, the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at Mander’s offices and residential premises concerning a case of alleged money laundering. The ED’s case is rooted in another case registered by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against CES. Mander holds a directorial role at CES.
In 2020, the Delhi Police registered two cases against the Centre for Equity Studies (CES)—one under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act and another for alleged financial irregularities. These cases followed a raid by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) at two children’s homes associated with CES, uncovering various irregularities, including financial discrepancies.
In response to a 2021 petition by CES in the Delhi High Court, the NCPCR clarified that it recommended action against the two children’s homes linked to Harsh Mander only after discovering multiple violations and discrepancies in management practices. These included taking children to protest sites, such as Jantar Mantar. During the inspection, the NCPCR found prima facie violations of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and its Model Rules, 2016, along with other irregularities. The institution allegedly hesitated to disclose its funding sources and relevant documents to the inspection team, according to the NCPCR.