Enforcement Directorate raids Amnesty International headquarters in Bengaluru

Update at 9:03 pm: Documents on the basis of which ED began its probe against Amnesty:

• Amnesty India has been denied permission/registration under FCRA due to adverse reports from security agencies
• Security agencies have reported that Amnesty International UK has been remitting huge funds through FDI route to avoid FCRA to expand its activities in India. 
• 36 crore fund have been received through four entities. Money was received as consultancy services. This is similar to how Sabrang Trust had received money from the Ford Foundation and evaded FCRA
• ED is looking into the issue that pertains to the FCRA unit’s suspicion that Amnesty International UK and other some entities based in the UK have infused funds into Amnesty India allegedly through commercial channels, in violation of FEMA rules
• ED sources say they have been probing this matter for the last few months

Update at 7:08 pm: Sources indicate it’s BCS of FEMA violations on investment through FDI

Update at 7:08 pm: Any Non-governmental Organization or any institution working for the restoration of Human Rights or raising voice against high handiness of the government or majoritarian fundamentalism or any NGO which seems to be rising objection of democratic institution. The government did not explain why their raid was stopped. The ED seems to have no work other than to protect the government: Congress' Rizwan Arshad defends Amnesty

In a major crackdown on NGOs, Enforcement Directorate has confirmed that the Amnesty International headquarters in Bengaluru is being raided. As per sources, the ED is looking at FCRA and other violations. The raids started at 2 pm.

The action on Amnesty International comes after ED had stopped operations of Greenpeace India Society's 12 accounts with different banks. As per reports, the source of funding of many NGOs are now under the scanner. 

Read: India Needs A Strong, Stable And Decisive Government For The Next 10 Years. Weak Coalitions Will Be Bad For India: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

Earlier in October, the Enforcement Directorate had frozen over a dozen bank accounts of environmental NGO Greenpeace and its linked entity after it conducted searches at their premises in Bangalore on charges of alleged forex violations. 

The NGO said in a statement that it strongly denies all allegations against it and that the ED action was "part of a larger design to muzzle democratic dissent in the country".

Official sources in the central probe agency said the searches, under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), were conducted on October 5 in Bengaluru as it was detected that it incorporated a commercial entity called DDIIPL in 2016 after the Union Home Ministry cancelled Greenpeace India Society's (Chennai) FCRA registration the previous year for alleged violation of norms.

"Every rupee that goes into Greenpeace India's environmental work is a donation made by ecologically conscious people in the country. Greenpeace India's work for clean air, promotion of renewable energy, safe food for all and climate change mitigation is carried out with a unique combination of passion and professionalism. We strongly object to attempts of defaming Greenpeace India through false claims and accusations," the NGO said.

Official sources said the ED searches were carried out on charges of "contravention of the FEMA" and the office premises of DDIIPL and Greenpeace India Society were covered.