Anand Joshi, Under Secretary in the Home Ministry, against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs, on Tuesday claimed that he was “pressurised” by his superior to give a clean chit to some organisations, including the Ford Foundation.
Joshi, whose house was searched by the CBI on Monday, claimed that he was “being pressurised and threatened by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry BK Prasad to give a clean chit to some of the NGOs, which he had refused to obey.
Prasad, who is heading the Foreigners Division handling NGOs and issues related to Foreign Regulation Contribution Act, denied the allegations levelled against him. “The case is with the CBI and it is the most competent organisation. I am sure truth will come out. Whatever Joshi is talking is rubbish,” Prasad said.
Joshi claimed that Prasad had “verbally” asked him to give favourable comments on Ford Foundation “which I refused. Soon, he ensured that I am transferred out of Foreigners Division. I demand that the CBI should probe Prasad. There should be an investigation why clean chit was given to Ford Foundation,” Joshi said.