MHA Officer, Accused of Helping NGOs Get FCRA Clearance, Missing

Ministry of Home Affairs Under Secretary Anand Joshi, accused of arbitrarily issuing notices to NGOs under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and tampering with official files, reportedly disappeared from his home on Wednesday morning.

His was found missing from his home in Indirapuram area of Ghaziabad district in Uttar Pradesh just hours before he was supposed to report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for questioning.

His wife Meenakshi alleged that his superior is trying to frame him because he refused a bribe.

"He is an honest person, ask his colleagues. Open the file and you will get to know the reality. He was mentally disturbed and was depressed also. If something happens to him, BK Prasad will be responsible for it. If no action is taken against BK Prasad, then I will commit suicide," said Meenakshi.

Joshi has been accused of contacting NGOs and offering to either get their FCRA clearance done or prevent FCRA investigation notices if they pay money.

He also allegedly 'removed files' related to Teesta Setalvad's NGO Sabrang Trust, against whom a notice was served by the MHA in connection with a FCRA violation and cancellation of Trust's licence.

In a statement issued by the CBI reads, "We have registered a case u/s 120-B of IPC and Section 13(2) r/w 13(1) (d) of PC Act, 1988 against an Under Secretary, working in the MHA and other unknown persons. It was alleged that he was indulged in corrupt activities and arbitrarily issuing notices to large number of NGOs and Societies registered under FCRA who had been receiving significant amount of foreign contribution."

It further reads, "He had allegedly demanded and obtained illegal gratification from some of these organisations, which were laundered through various immovable assets as well as certain private companies. Searches were conducted at four locations in the residential and office premises of accused and others."

"Approximately Rs 7.5 lakh and certain incriminating documents including files pertaining to the MHA and Ministry of I & B were recovered from the premises of the said officer. The documents are being scrutinized."