Union Home Ministry on Thursday suspended registration of Sabrang Trust, the NGO run by controversial social activist Teesta Setalvad, from accepting foreign contributions. In an order, the Ministry said exercising the powers conferred under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, the registration of Sabrang Trust has been suspended for a period of 180 days with effect from Sept 10, 2015.
Another NGO run by Teesta and her husband Javed Anand, Citizens for Justice and Peace, has already been put under prior permission category, thus making it mandatory for it to take permission from the Ministry before accepting or utilising any foreign contribution.
The Sabrang Trust, run by Teesta and her husband Javed Anand, can make a representation against the order within 30 days. However, if the Home Ministry is not satisfied with the reply of the NGO, its registration will be cancelled.
The Home Ministry order said that during the course of inspection of records of Sabrang Trust, it was noticed that both Teesta and Javed Anand are chief functionary or trustee of the NGO. Both are also working as directors, co-editors, printers and publisher in the company namely Sabrang Communications & Publishing Pvt limited (SCPPl) and published a magazine called Communalism Combat. The SCPPl had accepted contribution from foreign source, thus violating FCRA, it said.
On inspection of Sabrang Trust accounts, it was noticed that it received total donation of Rs48.42 lakh and Rs49.10 lakh in 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively out of which they spent Rs30.97 lakh and Rs27.07 lakh which comes to 64.23 per cent and 55.14 per cent respectively, on administrative expenses.
As per Section 8 (1)(b) of FCRA 2010 requires approval of the Home Ministry before incurring expenses on administrative head exceeding 50 per cent limit. Thus, it is a violation of FCRA, the Ministry said.
During the course of inspection of books and records of the NGO by the Home Ministry, it was noticed that payments of Rs 50 lakh were made by
Sabrang Trust to Sabrang Communications & Publishing Pvt, limited which seems to have been used for personal gain.
Following a recommendation of the Home Ministry, the CBI has registered a case and launched a probe against Sabrang Communication and Publishing Pvt limited for allegedly accepting and utilising foreign contribution in violation of FCRA.