Aakar Patel, the former head of Amnesty India, was stopped at Bengaluru Airport.

  • April 6, 2022, 11:06 a.m.

At Bengaluru airport today, former Amnesty International India Chief Aakar Patel was stopped from boarding a flight to the United States.

Mr. Patel tweeted that he was put on the exit control list in connection with a case filed against Amnesty India International by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In a tweet shortly after he was stopped from leaving India, Mr. Patel said, "CBI

officer called to say I am on the look-out circular because of the case the Modi government has filed against Amnesty International India."

A CBI officer called to say I am on the Look-Out Circular because of the case the Modi government has filed against Amnesty International India. 

Mr. Patel said that he was prevented from travelling to the US despite a Gujarat court order granting him permission "specifically" for the said trip. The Gujarat court's ruling shared by Mr. Patel showed that the judge had ordered his passport to be returned and allowed him to travel to the US between March 1 and May 30.

The CBI had filed a case against Amnesty International India and three of its associate organisations in November, 2019, following a complaint lodged by the Home Ministry for alleged violation of the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and the Indian Penal Code.

The case was registered against Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL), Indians For Amnesty International Trust (IAIT), Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT), Amnesty International South Asia Foundation (AISAF) and others.

According to the complaint filed by the Home Ministry, a payment of Rs 10 crore, classified as foreign direct investment, was remitted to Amnesty India from its London office without first obtaining the home ministry's approval. 

Another 26 crore has been remitted to Amnesty India, "primarily from the UK-based entities". 

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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