A fresh political controversy has erupted in Kerala following the selective leaking of another portion of a state vigilance report, this time recommending a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry against an NGO linked to opposition leader V D Satheesan.
Fresh Leak Targets NGO and Its Leadership
A day after sections of a vigilance report suggesting a probe against Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan were made public, a new segment of the same document has emerged. This latest leaked portion advises a CBI investigation into the Manappatt Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, and its chairperson and CEO, Ameer Ahmed. The recommended probe is under the stringent Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The vigilance report, according to sources, frames its recommendation within an alleged larger conspiracy involving Satheesan. It claims that foreign funds were mobilised abroad and channelled to Kerala under the guise of rehabilitating flood victims. Specifically, the report points to funds raised overseas for the ‘Punarjani' project, which were then transferred to the state between 2018 and 2022.
Scrutiny of Funds and Conflicting Findings
Vigilance scrutiny noted that during the operational period of the Punarjani project, a sum of Rs 1.22 crore was deposited into the FCRA account of the Manappatt Foundation. The complaint examined by the agency alleged that this money was collected from various countries specifically for Satheesan using the project's name, and that the NGO served as a conduit for these funds.
However, this latest recommendation stands in stark contrast to the conclusions of two earlier vigilance probes into the same matter. Investigations conducted first under the director who preceded the current officer, and later under the director who succeeded him, both categorically concluded that there were no discrepancies or illegalities in the Punarjani project. Those prior inquiries, based on document scrutiny, found no grounds for further investigation and effectively closed the case.
Political Storm Over Selective Leaks
The phased manner in which the vigilance report is entering the public domain has intensified the political row. The initial leak targeted the opposition leader directly, and the subsequent one focuses on an NGO associated with him. This pattern has raised serious questions about the selective nature, sequencing, and timing of the disclosures, with critics alleging a politically motivated campaign.
In his response, Ameer Ahmed, the chairperson of Manappatt Foundation, dismissed the latest vigilance findings as "baseless and politically motivated." He asserted that all projects undertaken by the foundation were transparent and that complete records for the Punarjani project were available. Ahmed categorically denied any violation of FCRA norms, stating all relevant documents had already been submitted to the vigilance authorities.
Ahmed clarified that the Manappatt Foundation was not created solely for the Punarjani project. He questioned the credibility of a report that, in his view, contradicts documents already examined by investigators. Describing the vigilance findings as mysterious and unfair, he stated the foundation was prepared to face any probe, including by the CBI. He alleged a conscious attempt to derail public welfare initiatives.
