Activist Harsh Mander's NGO raided by CBI for alleged violation of FCRA |
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had recommended a CBI inquiry last year, following a money laundering probe initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in September 2021. Previous raids were conducted at Mander's residence and associated organizations, including the Centre for Equity Studies (CES), which he leads.
The Enforcement Directorate had faced criticism from rights groups for the raids, with accusations of harassment. In June 2023, the Union home ministry suspended CES's FCRA license using Section 3 of the FCRA, barring entities associated with registered newspapers from accepting foreign contributions.
Harsh Mander, a former IAS officer, has been a vocal advocate against communal disharmony in India. Over the last decade, he has criticized the Modi government for alleged involvement in majoritarian politics. His NGO's research work has shed light on governmental shortcomings in ensuring equity and safety for all citizens.
The situation has raised concerns about central agencies focusing on government critics and opposition figures. Legal experts, including senior advocate Kapil Sibal, have pointed out the disproportionate attention on those not aligned with the BJP's political agenda, contrasting it with the lack of scrutiny on over 30 central ministers with declared criminal cases.
This development comes in the backdrop of a reported surge in Enforcement Directorate cases since 2014, with a significant majority directed at opposition leaders. Nearly 95% of cases investigated by the ED and CBI against political figures target those in opposition.
Harsh Mander, recognized for his work on the right to food, right to information, bonded labor, and Adivasi rights, serves as the Director of the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Equity Studies. He has authored several books, including "Between Memory and Forgetting: Massacre and the Modi Years in Gujarat" and "Partitions of the Heart: Unmaking the Idea of India."
As the investigation unfolds, it sparks discussions on the intersection of activism, government critique, and legal scrutiny, raising questions about the impartiality of such probes in India's political landscape.
Reported by: Neeraj Chauhan