The Central government has granted sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Amnesty International India and its former head, Aakar Patel, for alleged violations of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) provisions.
The agency had filed a chargesheet in the case on December 31, 2021, and sought the government’s approval to prosecute the organisation as required under Section 40 of the FCRA. The court is scheduled to take up the matter on April 18.
After filing the chargesheet, the CBI had issued a Look-Out Circular against Mr. Patel, based on which he was stopped by the immigration officials at the Bengaluru airport from taking a flight to the United States. A city court ordered withdrawal of the circular. However, it was overturned by a Special Judge, who directed Mr. Patel to not leave the country without the court’s permission.
