The Union Home Ministry has cited nine reasons for cancelling Greenpeace India's registration to receive foreign funds.
These include transfer of foreign funds to non-designated accounts, mention of incorrect amount of foreign contribution and funding legal costs in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The ministry said it had sought clarifications from the NGO on a variety of issues, including those on source of fixed deposits, as latest as on August 19, two weeks before it finally issued the order, but Greenpeace India said it had already answered the queries on different fora. The NGO had submitted a detailed reply on May 7, rebutting all charges and accusing the government of making a “cynical attempt” to shut it down.
“Details provided by Greenpeace India were carefully examined and were not found satisfactory,” said the ministry's order. The “information and evidence in possession of the government” confirms that Greenpeace India's foreign contribution acceptance has “prejudicially affected the public interest” and “economic interest” of the country, said the order.
Almost all reasons cited in the show-cause notice find a place in the cancellation order.
One of the reasons cited was the transfer of Rs 3.88 crore collected from abroad in May 2012 to unauthorised bank accounts. Greenpeace India was also accused of under-reporting and repeatedly mentioning “incorrect” figures on foreign funds.
The ministry said the NGO funded bail petitions, besides filing writ petitions, with foreign funds. It was also accused of “wilfully” suppressing details of salary paid to Greenpeace International activist Greg Muttit.
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