MHA may order probe into NGO issues

The Home Ministry is likely to order an internal inquiry into the alleged irregularities in its Foreigners Division, which keeps an eye on “violations” of the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by NGOs.

A top official said the ministry was awaiting a report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs and missing of some crucial files, before ordering a departmental inquiry to examine the whole issue.

The ministry wants to ensure that all key files and documents related to Foreigners Division are in safe custody, the official said. Some vital information was gathered by the Intelligence Bureau in last two years about activities of various NGOs, following which action was taken against many of them. The Ministry wants that no such key document goes missing, the official said.

Anand Joshi, Under Secretary in MHA, against whom the CBI has registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs went missing since yesterday.

He was accused of taking away several files of different NGOs, including one related to Care India, a voluntary organisation. Joshi, however, had claimed that the CBI has not found anything from him and denied that he had taken any file home. 

Joshi alleged that he was pressurised by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry BK Prasad to give clean chit to some of the NGOs.