The residences of lawyer and activist Indira Jaising and husband Anand Grover are being raided by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with FCRA violations in the NGO Lawyers Collective, according to a report in Republic TV.
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Searches are also taking place at the Mumbai and Delhi offices of the NGO. Recently, The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed an FIR against Advocate Anand Grover and NGO Lawyers’ Collective for FCRA violations.
The FIR was filed under sections 120-B, 406, 120, 199 of the Indian Penal Code, 33, 35, 37, 39 of the FCRA, 2010 and other sections of the PC Act, 1988. The FIR also mentions several other office-bearers and functionaries of the NGO and unknown private persons and public servants under IPC sections that deal with forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Earlier in May, Indira Jaising, Anand Grover and Lawyers’ Collective were issued a notice by the Supreme Court based on a PIL filed by a voluntary organization of lawyers, Lawyers Voice, seeking an SIT investigation into the inaction of the Central Government over the violation of FCRA laws by the entities concerned. The notice was issued by a bench headed by CJI Gogoi.
The FRCA licence of the NGO was cancelled by the Modi government in 2016 for using foreign funds to achieve political objectives. Indira Jaising also appeared on behalf of one of the petitioners who wanted to desecrate the Sabarimala Temple.