MHA likely to order internal probe on NGO issues

New Delhi: The Home Ministry is likely to order an internal inquiry into the alleged irregularities in its Foreigners Division, which keeps an eye on "violations" of the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by NGOs.

A top official said the ministry is awaiting a report from the CBI, which registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs and missing of some crucial files, before ordering a departmental inquiry to examine the whole issue.

The ministry wants to ensure that all key files and documents related to Foreigners Division are in safe custody, the official said.

Some vital information was gathered by the Intelligence Bureau in last two years about activities of various NGOs following which action was taken against many of them.

The Home Ministry wants that no such key document goes missing, the official said.

Anand Joshi, Under Secretary in the Home Ministry, against whom the CBI has registered a case in connection with FCRA notices to NGOs went missing since yesterday. He was accused of taking away several files of different NGOs, including one related to Care India, a voluntary organisation.

Joshi, however, had claimed on Tuesday that CBI has not found anything from him and denied that he had taken any file to his home.

"All files were found in the Home Ministry itself. It can be verified after checking the CCTV cameras," he had said.

Joshi had claimed that he was pressurised and threatened by Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad to give clean chit to some of the NGOs, including Ford Foundation, which was accused of violating provisions of FCRA. Prasad denied the allegation.

Prasad heads the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry.