CBI Files FIR Against Oxfam India For Violation Of FCRA Norms

The CBI filed a FIR against the organisation and its office holders for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and conducted searches at Oxfam India's office, as per officials on wednesday. Based on a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs, a FIR was filed against the Indian branch of the international NGO Oxfam.

The allegation, which is now a part of the FIR, claimed that despite Oxfam India's FCRA registration having lapsed, the organisation still intended to break the law by finding alternative ways to channel money.

"From the email found during an IT survey by the CBDT it appears that Oxfam India is providing funds to the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) through its associates/employees in the form of commission. The same is also reflected from the TDS data of the Oxfam India which shows payment of Rs 12.71 lakh to the CPR in the F.Y. 2019-20...,," the complaint has alleged.

It claimed that although the group had obtained FCRA registration in order to engage in social activities, payments paid to the Delhi-based think tank CPR through associates or staff in the form of commission for professional or technical services were at odds with the group's declared goals.

"This is a violation of section 8 & 12(4) of the FCRA 2010," it alleged.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reportedly conducted searches at the Oxfam India office in Delhi on Wednesday. In a statement earlier this month, Oxfam India asserted that it fully complies with Indian law.

The CBI claimed in its FIR filed on Tuesday that Oxfam India continued to distribute subgrants to a number of partners even after the FCR Amendment Act, 2020, which forbade such transfers, went into effect.