Two MHA Officials Held Over Alleged Bribery
Officials allegedly sought illegal gratification to facilitate pending FCRA registration
- Two officials apprehended in New Delhi over alleged illegal gratification.
- Officials allegedly offered to facilitate FCRA registration and renewal.
- One official is posted in MHA’s Foreigners Division.
- MHA says all FCRA services are available online without intermediaries.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th Sept: Two government officials were apprehended in New Delhi for allegedly seeking illegal gratification from an association in exchange for facilitating its pending registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Tuesday.
The two officials were apprehended on September 28 by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in coordination with central agencies, following specific information received by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to the ministry, one of the officials is currently posted as a Senior Accountant in the Foreigners Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the other, an Accountant presently posted in a Pay & Accounts Office, had earlier served in the Foreigners Division.
Preliminary questioning has indicated that the two officials were allegedly in contact with certain associations and were offering to facilitate their FCRA registration and renewal in return for illegal gratification.
The ministry said the investigation is continuing and further details will emerge as the probe progresses.
The apprehension follows information received by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the alleged demand for illegal gratification in connection with an association’s pending FCRA registration.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said it maintains zero tolerance towards corruption and that appropriate legal and departmental action is being taken in the matter.
The ministry also reiterated that all FCRA-related services are provided through the online FCRA portal. It clarified that no intermediary, agent or individual is authorised to facilitate any FCRA service.
The ministry advised that applicants dealing with FCRA-related matters should use the official online mechanism and not engage unauthorised intermediaries.
