Highlights – 

  • CBI probe recommended against Harsh Mander’s NGO
  • There is a case of FCRA violation, Home Ministry recommended
  • Mander has been a member of the National Advisory Council in the UPA government.

The Home Ministry has recommended a CBI inquiry against Harsh Mander’s NGO. This has been done for violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act ie FCRA. Officials have given this information Retired IAS officer Harsh Mander is said to be close to former Congress President Sonia Gandhi in several media reports. Mander was a member of the National Advisory Council during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Its command was in the hands of Sonia Gandhi. The Union Home Ministry’s recommendation for probe against the NGO comes days after the government suspended the FCRA license of Delhi’s top think tank Center for Policy Research (CPR). The FCRA law regulates donations received from abroad. In 2021, Harsh’s house was raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Then this action was strongly opposed by activists, lawyers and people associated with the academic field.

The Union Home Ministry has recommended a CBI inquiry against author and human rights activist Harsh Mander’s NGO for violating FCRA. Mandar runs an NGO named ‘Aman Biradari’. Mander was a member of the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. All NGOs receiving foreign funds are required to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs under the FCRA.

Was a member of the National Advisory Council in the UPA government

Mandar has served 20 years in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as an IAS. Mander resigned from the civil service in 2002 after the Gujarat riots. He started working as a social worker. He was a member of the National Advisory Council (NSC) during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Its president was Sonia Gandhi. He is claimed to be close to Sonia Gandhi. Mander has written several books. His articles have been appearing in newspaper editorials on topics related to social justice and human rights. ED raided Mander’s house and office in 2021 in money laundering case.

Top think tank’s license was suspended

Earlier this month, the Home Ministry suspended the FCRA license of Lutyens’ top think tank ‘Centre for Policy Research’. The move came months after the Income Tax Department conducted a survey at the CPR premises.

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