The Crossbill Team
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun a preliminary inquiry into alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), the institution he founded, The Indian Express has reported.
The inquiry was initiated about two months ago on the basis of a complaint filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and remains ongoing, according to an official cited by the daily.
The development comes a day after the MHA accused Wangchuk of instigating the violent protest in Leh, alleging that the “mob was incited” by his “provocative statements”.
The protest led to police firing in which at least four people were killed. In the aftermath, curfew-like restrictions were enforced across the city as senior home ministry officials engaged with leaders of the troubled border region.
Speaking to PTI, Wangchuk said that a CBI team had approached him with “an order” around 10 days ago, informing him that they were acting on a complaint from the MHA regarding alleged FCRA violations.
He added that last week, CBI officials visited HIAL and the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), demanding records of foreign funds received between 2022 and 2024. The teams, he said, continue to remain in Ladakh and are scrutinising the accounts and statements of the organisations.
While the inquiry has been underway for weeks, no FIR has been registered so far. Wangchuk explained that the allegations stem from service agreements involving India exporting knowledge to the United Nations, a Swiss university, and an Italian organisation, with all taxes duly paid to the government.
“The order said we have not taken clearance under FCRA to receive foreign funds. We don’t want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was foreign contribution,” he said, adding that “everyone knows we have documents to show”.
“The funny part is, Ladakh is one place where there is no tax. Yet I voluntarily pay taxes, and I get summons. Then they resurrected a four-year-old complaint that labourers were not paid properly. It is guns blazing from all sides on us,” he further alleged.
Wangchuk, an engineer-turned-activist known for his innovations in sustainable technologies, recently ended a 15-day hunger strike in light of the violence. He appealed to Ladakh’s youth to maintain peace, urging them not to derail the long-running movement for Sixth Schedule protections and statehood for the region, which has been continuing for more than five years.
The inquiry was initiated about two months ago on the basis of a complaint filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and remains ongoing, according to an official cited by the daily.
The development comes a day after the MHA accused Wangchuk of instigating the violent protest in Leh, alleging that the “mob was incited” by his “provocative statements”.
The protest led to police firing in which at least four people were killed. In the aftermath, curfew-like restrictions were enforced across the city as senior home ministry officials engaged with leaders of the troubled border region.
Speaking to PTI, Wangchuk said that a CBI team had approached him with “an order” around 10 days ago, informing him that they were acting on a complaint from the MHA regarding alleged FCRA violations.
He added that last week, CBI officials visited HIAL and the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), demanding records of foreign funds received between 2022 and 2024. The teams, he said, continue to remain in Ladakh and are scrutinising the accounts and statements of the organisations.
While the inquiry has been underway for weeks, no FIR has been registered so far. Wangchuk explained that the allegations stem from service agreements involving India exporting knowledge to the United Nations, a Swiss university, and an Italian organisation, with all taxes duly paid to the government.
“The order said we have not taken clearance under FCRA to receive foreign funds. We don’t want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was foreign contribution,” he said, adding that “everyone knows we have documents to show”.
“The funny part is, Ladakh is one place where there is no tax. Yet I voluntarily pay taxes, and I get summons. Then they resurrected a four-year-old complaint that labourers were not paid properly. It is guns blazing from all sides on us,” he further alleged.
Wangchuk, an engineer-turned-activist known for his innovations in sustainable technologies, recently ended a 15-day hunger strike in light of the violence. He appealed to Ladakh’s youth to maintain peace, urging them not to derail the long-running movement for Sixth Schedule protections and statehood for the region, which has been continuing for more than five years.
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