CBI raids senior SC advocates Indira Jaising, Anand Grover in foreign funding case

CBI filed an FIR against lawyers on June 18 for alleged violation of rules in receiving foreign aid.

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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Thursday raided the residence and offices of Supreme Court senior advocates Anand Grover and his wife Indira Jaising in connection with a case on violation of rules in receiving foreign funds. The raids are being conducted in Mumbai and Delhi.

The agency had filed an FIR against the lawyers on June 18 for alleged violation of rules in receiving foreign aid on the basis of a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which has pointed at several discrepancies in the utilisation of foreign aid. The CBI had booked Grover, the president of Lawyers Collective, and unidentified officials on charges of violating rules under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

The complaint mentions a rally which was held for HIV/AIDS bill. It further states that the NGO "received foreign contribution amounting to Rs 32.39 crore" during the period 2006-07 to 2014-15, reported news agency ANI.

Lawyers Collective is run by Grover and his wife Jaising.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the CBI raids, saying subjecting veterans who fought for upholding the rule of law and Constitutional values is "clear vendetta".

"I strongly condemn CBI raids on well known senior advocates  @IJaising and Mr Anand Grover. Let the law take its own course but subjecting veterans who have all through their lives fought for upholding the rule of law & Constitutional values is clear vendetta," tweeted Kejriwal. 

I strongly condemn CBI raids on well known senior advocates @IJaising and Mr Anand Grover. Let the law take its own course but subjecting veterans who have all through their lives fought for upholding the rule of law & Constitutional values is clear vendetta — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 11, 2019

Reacting to the development, Supreme Court advocate Jaising said, "Mr Grover and I are being targeted for the human rights work that we have done over the years."