CBI files chargesheet against Oxfam India for FCRA violations
Oxfam India was registered under the FCRA, 2010, for undertaking social activities and its registration was valid up to December 31, 2021
New Delhi, January 24
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recently filed a chargesheet against Oxfam India and its executive director Amitabh Behar over alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which regulates foreign grants received by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Oxfam India was registered under the FCRA, 2010, for undertaking social activities and its registration was valid up to December 31, 2021. During this time, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) found several alleged FCRA violations by Oxfam India. In April 2023, the MHA recommended a CBI inquiry into alleged FCRA violations by the global non-profit organisation.
MHA had found that Oxfam India continued to transfer foreign contributions to various entities even after coming into force of the amendment to the FCRA dated September 29, 2020, which prohibits such transfers. The amendment to the FCRA has prohibited NGOs from transferring foreign grants to other FCRA NGOs. As per the amendment, an FCRA-registered NGO will have to open a bank account with a branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Delhi and only here can the foreign contributions be sent.
