The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has been receiving foreign contributions for “purposes other than what it was registered and is using the same for undesirable purposes”.
“During the examination of report of survey operation shared by the Income Tax Department, it has been noticed that the petitioner is receiving and utilizing FC for the purposes other than that for which it was registered and the petitioner is utilizing FC for undesirable purposes,” the Union Home Ministry said in its affidavit.
The Income Tax department conducted a survey operation in September 2022 and shared certain relevant findings with the ministry pointing to the utilisation of foreign contributions received by the CPR, the affidavit said.
“Hence to stop continuation of diversion and mis-utilisation of FC by the petitioner and to safeguard the economic interest of the state, the foreign funding of the petitioner’s activities needed to be stopped with immediate effect,” it added.
The Centre’s response came in the CPR’s plea challenging the February 27 order of the Centre suspending the certificate granted to the think tank under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
