The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against Oxfam India and office bearers for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Previous court filings brought earlier this month named the Indian arm of the international non-governmental organization (NGO) and former CEO Amitabh Behar, currently the Executive Director of Oxfam International, in the charge sheet. The details were disclosed Thursday, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
A probe says it was initiated after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in April 2023 asked the CBI to investigate allegations against Oxfam India, as it suspected the international agency was involved in activities that were against the nation. The ministry directed federal agency FEA to scrutinize the organization for possible FCRA violations, a law governing foreign contributions to NGOs in India. During the investigation, the CBI registered a case and raided Oxfam India’s premises. On December 31, 2021, the NGO’s FCRA license was canceled in the aftermath.
The CBI chargesheet says that Oxfam India was trying to design a system to continue working even after its renewal application for FCRA was rejected. The NGO is also accused of approaching foreign governments and institutions like the European Union, the US State Department, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Asian Development Bank, and many European countries to pressure the Indian government to renew its FCRA license.
Along with Oxfam India, the CBI also alleges that the organization violated Section 8 of the FCRA by expending a major share of its foreign funds on administration—33%, which is more than what is specifically allowed under the law at 20%. The agency also alleges that the funds were being used to fund protests and agitations, another violation of FCRA regulations.
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