CBI Investigates Alleged Foreign Funding Violations at Oxfam India

Addition to denying any wrongdoing, Oxfam India stated that it was working with law enforcement.

According to officials, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Oxfam India and its office holders for allegedly breaking India’s foreign funding rules and is currently conducting searches at the non-governmental organization’s offices.

In addition to denying any wrongdoing, Oxfam India stated that it was working with law enforcement.

According to the Home Ministry’s complaint, between 2013 and 2016, Oxfam India received approximately 1.5 crore directly into its Foreign Contribution Utilisation account rather than the designated bank account. Additionally, it was claimed in the complaint that OxfamIndia broke the rules of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, by routing 12.71 lakh to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) in the 2019–20 fiscal year.

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The Home Ministry had suspended Oxfam India’s FCRA licence in January of last year. The CBI claimed that it took action in response to that ministry’s complaint.

The complaint also stated that OxfamIndia intended to circumvent the FCRA by sending money to other organisations or for-profit consulting businesses. The CBI claimed that during a search operation last year, it had seized a number of emails from Oxfam India’s office.

The global Oxfam organisation, of which Oxfam India is a member, works to address issues like poverty, inequality, gender justice, and climate change. The non-governmental organisation has said it is cooperating with the authorities and has denied any wrongdoing.

Since its FCRA registration was not renewed in December 2021, Oxfam India has cooperated with all government agencies. We have petitioned the Delhi High Court to overturn the decision not to renew our FCRA registration. “The High Court has asked the Union government to respond to our petition,” it said earlier this month in a statement.

The CBI case against Oxfam India comes at a time when the government is investigating and taking action against several civil society organisations due to their foreign funding and activities. While the opposition has claimed harassment and restrictions on dissent, the government has stated that it is taking action against those who misuse foreign funds or break the law.