CID lens on missionary wallets ,,,, Papers seized from 39 Ranchi, Ramgarh outfits

TT, Ranchi: The CID on Friday inspected 39 missionary-run institutions in Ranchi and Ramgarh as part of a probe into funds received by these nonprofits under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.

The probe involving 38 organisations in the capital and one in the neighbouring district follows a Union home ministry directive last month to look into the functioning of 88 NGOs in Jharkhand that receive foreign funds.

DGP D.K. Pandey, on his part, submitted a preliminary report to the state government in which he mentioned that the Missionaries of Charity and five other registered Christian societies had received Rs 927.27 crore in foreign donations in the past 11 years.

His report also mentions that during investigations into the baby sale racket involving Missionaries of Charity-run Nirmal Hriday, it was discovered that these outfits had diverted foreign funds for "other purposes" as well.

Friday's inspection continued for three hours from 11am and involved 200 officials, including a CID DSP and inspector. The teams were given clear instructions on documents needed to be seized for scrutiny.

"Besides FCRA registration papers, which are issued by the Union ministry, we require details of FCRA bank accounts, statements for the past five years, MoU papers with foreign donors, donation receipts, annual audit and income tax report, among others," said a senior CID officer.

He maintained that passbooks of every kind, list of donors, documents of purchase, activity reports, movable and immovable property papers and details of schools/hospitals/shelters run by them had been seized.

"Inquiry teams were asked to procure printouts of e-mail conversations. Investigations began last month. Some institutions had submitted audit reports, which are being examined. Some discrepancies have been found. The inquiry today (Friday) is a part of the ongoing investigations," the CID source added.

In Ranchi, the teams visited offices of Bethel Mission, Brothers of St Gabriel Education Society, Capuchin Friars Minor Society, Catholic Health Association, Daughters of St Anne, Don Bosco Technical School, Holy Faith Tribal Welfare and Development Trust, Lutheran Girls' Hostel, Ranchi Carmelite Society, Ranchi Catholic Archdiocese, Ranchi Holy Cross Sisters' Society, Ranchi Jesuits, Ranchi Ursuline Society and St Michael's School for the Blind, among others.

In Ramgarh, the premises of Medical Sisters of St Francis Assisi was searched.