ED's big action against Amnesty India, trust assets worth 1.54 crore attached

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth Rs 1.54 crore of a charitable trust linked to international human rights organization Amnesty India. The ED gave this information on Friday.

The agency said that an order has been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach the assets. This property belongs to Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT). This action has been taken against Amnesty India on allegations of violation of the on-going Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

The ED said that Amnesty International India Foundation Trust was permitted under FCRA to receive foreign donations from Amnesty International UK in the year 2011-12. But later the permission was revoked. This was followed by Amnesty International India Pvt. Ltd. (AIIPL) and IAIT was formed in 2012-13. Both of these formations were done to avoid EpCRA.

Through the money raised in the name of foreign direct investment and service exports in these two organizations, organizations affiliated with Amnesty started working as NGOs. Amnesty International UK sent Rs 51.72 crore to AIIPL in the name of export of services and foreign direct investment. However, no documentary evidence of export of the service is available.