MHA calls for CBI probe into Harsh Mander NGO funding

NEW DELHI: The home ministry has recommended a CBI probe against Aman Biradari, NGOs established by activist Harsh Mander, for having allegedly received foreign funding without being registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, sources told TOI on Monday. The action followed directions from home minister Amit Shah.
A home ministry official told, Aman Biradari was under the scrutiny of its FCRA division as donations worth over Rs 2 crore were allegedly received by the NGO from its foreign organizations, including Oxfam and Action Aid.
“Since this foreign funding was received by the NGO without being registered under FCRA, the home ministry has recommended that CBI look into the matter,” the official said.
Aman Biradari is run by Mander who was a member of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council during the erstwhile UPA government. According to Mander’s website, he is the “founder of Aman Biradari, a people’s campaign for a secular, peaceful, just and humane world, established after the Gujarat communal carnage of 2002”.
Harsh Mander, who was part of the campaign against the Citizenship Amendment Act, has previously been under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. The ED case is based on one registered by Delhi Police’s Economic Offenses Wing against the Center for Equity Studies (CES), where Mander is a director. There was also a case against CES for alleged financial irregularities with respect to two children’s homes run by it. (a syndicated feed)