CBI probes Sonam Wangchuk and his institute for alleged foreign fund violation
THE Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting a preliminary enquiry (PE) to probe alleged violation of foreign funding law by Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk and an institute founded by him, officials said on Thursday.
Wangchuk was even called by CBI to appear before it, but he has yet to respond, according to an officer, who didn’t want to be named.
The federal anti-corruption agency launched a PE - precursor to the first information report (FIR) to ascertain if a case is made out - against Wangchuk and Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) about two months ago, based on a reference from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
As part of the probe, the agency is currently examining financial statements of HIAL and Wangchuk, said the officer.
HT has reached out to Wangchuk for a comment on the CBI probe. This story will be updated accordingly. Meanwhile, he told the news agency PTI that a CBI team visited HIAL and the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) last week, seeking details of foreign funds received by them between 2022 and 2024.
“The order said we have not taken clearance under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to receive foreign funds. We don’t want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was foreign contribution,” Wangchuk claimed to the PTI.
The Centre has blamed the activist for inciting the violence in Ladakh on Wednesday, by misleading the people through provocative mentions of Arab Spring-style protests and references to the recent Gen Z protests in Nepal.
“A hunger strike was started by Sonam Wangchuk on September 10, stating the demand of bringing the UT under the 6th schedule (of the constitution) and statehood for Ladakh. It is well known that the government of India has been actively engaged with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on the same issues. A series of meetings were held with them through a formal channel of a high-powered committee as well as a subcommittee and multiple informal meetings with leaders,” the MHA said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The demands on which Wangchuk was on hunger strike are an integral part of the discussion in HPC. Despite many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, he continued with the hunger strike and misled the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protests and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal,” the ministry said.
Sharing the sequence of events of Wednesday, MHA said that around 11:30 am, a mob allegedly instigated by Wangchuk’s provocative speeches left the venue of the hunger strike and attacked a political party office as well as the government office of the Leh chief.
“They also set these offices on fire, attacked the security personnel, and torched a police vehicle. The unruly mob attacked the police personnel, more than 30 police/CRPF personnel. The mob continued to destroy the public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defence, police had to resort to firing, in which, unfortunately, some casualties were reported,” it said.
