CBI files chargesheet against Oxfam India over ‘FCRA violations’

Oxfam India was registered under the FCRA, 2010, for undertaking social activities and its registration was valid up to December 31, 2021. During this time, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) found several alleged FCRA violations by Oxfam India. In April 2023, the MHA recommended a CBI inquiry into alleged FCRA violations by the global non-profit organisation.

The MHA alleged that Oxfam India had been “planning to make a structure to continue its operation with the support of foreign funds after the rejection of its application for FCRA renewal in January 2022”, The Indian Express has learnt. After the denial of its FCRA renewal application, the NGO became ineligible for receiving foreign donations.

A source had earlier told the Indian Express that the MHA found that Oxfam India continued to transfer foreign contributions to various entities even after coming into force of the amendment to the FCRA dated September 29, 2020, which prohibits such transfers.

The amendment to the FCRA has prohibited NGOs from transferring foreign grants to other FCRA NGOs. “Oxfam India received foreign contributions amounting to around Rs 1.50 crore directly into its FC utilisation account instead of receiving foreign contributions in designated FCRA accounts,” the MHA had alleged, the Indian Express has learnt.

As per the amendment, an FCRA-registered NGO will have to open a bank account with a branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) in Delhi and only here can the foreign contributions be sent.

“An email dated 02-12-2020 impounded during the survey contains details of the projected expenditure of Oxfam India for FY 2021-22…which revealed that estimated administrative expenditure for FY 2021-22 is 33% instead of 20% which is violation of FCRA Act,” the MHA had earlier said.

The amendment to the FCRA lowered the cap on administrative expenses from 50 per cent of foreign funds received to 20 per cent. As per sources, the MHA also alleged the NGO was pressurising “the Indian government for FCRA approval from international agencies (such as the World Bank and the IMF) and domestic entities” via emails.