The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday searched nine places in Delhi and Haryana in connection with a money laundering case involving corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar, non-governmental organisation Advantage India and others for alleged misuse of foreign contributions of over ₹90 crore.
The searches were conducted on seven premises in Defence Colony, Rajinder Nagar and Shanti Niketan here and two premises in Faridabad in Haryana. Mr. Talwar is said to be in Dubai.
The investigation is based on an FIR filed by the CBI last November for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Among those named were Accordis Health Care Private Ltd., its functionaries Sunil Khandewal and Raman Kapoor (managing director), and consultant T. Kapoor.
The Home Ministry had lodged a complaint with the CBI alleging FCRA violation, criminal conspiracy, forgery, making false statement before the authority, use of forged documents and attempted cheating.
The complaint pertained to allegations of misuse of foreign contribution received under the Corporate Social Responsibility Scheme for educational and social activities in India. “The funds were allegedly received mainly from a foreign company, to the tune of ₹90.72 crore, in the bank accounts of the NGO,” a CBI official had earlier said.
The Ministry had alleged that in 2012-13, the NGO did not file annual returns for receipt of ₹20.9 crore from Airbus SAS, a French aerospace company, and ₹13.7 crore from missile manufacturer MBDA International. It was also alleged that the NGO received ₹45 crore from Airbus SAS in its non-FCRA account.
In 2016, the Income Tax Department had conducted searches against the accused for suspected irregularities.
