Fund misappropriation at NGOs: 17 cases referred to CBI

New Delhi

The government has referred 17 cases of alleged misutilisation and misappropriation of foreign contribution by NGOs to CBI while 10 cases were given to the state police, Lok Sabha was told today.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said complaints of alleged misutilisation and misappropriation of foreign funding by NGOs are routinely received from general public as well as security agencies.

“After inspection and scrutiny of accounts, 17 cases have been referred to CBI and 10 to state police for further action,” he said replying a written question.

Rijiju said accounts of 23 NGOs have been frozen, 20 other NGOs have been prohibited from receiving contribution and registration of one NGO has been cancelled.

“Notices were issued to 10,343 associations in 2014 for not filing annual returns continuously for three years.

Consequently, registration of 10,117 associations was cancelled in March 2015 after issue of show cause notices to such associations and given them adequate opportunity,” he said.

The Minister said as on December 1, 2015, 33,458 NGOs are registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and Rs 5,246 crore foreign funds were received by them during 2014-15 and Rs 13,052 crore in 2013-14.

Rijiju said in order to make the receipt and utilisations of foreign contribution by NGOs transparent, all FCRA services online and also to make the existing FCRA forms simpler, it is proposed to amend the FCRA Rules 2011.

PTI