Amnesty International Denies ED Charge of Violating FEMA

The alleged FEMA contravention is related to the borrowing and lending regulations to the tune of Rs 51.72 crore.

(Photo Courtesy: Amnesty International)

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International India on Tuesday, 10 September, denied charges of violating the foreign exchange law after it was recently served with a showcause notice by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

“Amnesty International India acknowledges that Amnesty International India Private Limited has received a show cause notice from the Enforcement Directorate.”

“We deny the charges. We have faith in the Constitution and the judicial processes and cannot share further details before answering the notice,” a spokesperson for the global body said.

The ED issued a showcause notice to Amnesty International for the alleged violation of the foreign exchange law to the tune of over Rs 51 crore, officials said on Thursday. September.

They said the notice was issued, after completion of the probe, under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

The notice was issued last month by the Adjudicating Authority of the FEMA which is a special director rank officer of the Enforcement Directorate, the officials said.

The alleged FEMA contravention is related to the borrowing and lending regulations to the tune of Rs 51.72 crore for rendering civil society activities in the country by getting remittances from its parent body, Amnesty International UK, in the garb of export of services, they said.

The central agency had last year conducted searches at the offices of the organisation in Bengaluru on charges of alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).