Aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar and several others have been slapped with a supplementary charge sheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The charge sheet specifically targets Talwar's non-profit organization, Advantage India, and names Talwar himself, along with his wife Deepa Talwar, Girish Vaid, Krishan Kumar Nair, Tarun Kumar Kapoor, Archana Kapoor, and Pran Nath Monga.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the CBI filed the supplementary charge sheet, marking the second such filing after the initial charge sheet in March 2020. The latest development in the case came to light on Thursday. The investigation centers around Advantage India, which had reportedly received ₹90.72 crores as part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme. However, the funds were allegedly diverted for other purposes, in contravention of FCRA regulations, as stated by a CBI spokesperson.

The case originated from an FIR registered in November 2017, which implicated Talwar, his NGO, M/s Accordis Health Care Pvt Ltd, its representative Sunil Khandelwal, MD Raman Kapoor, and consultant M/s T Kapoor, along with unidentified individuals, for criminal conspiracy, forgery, and violations of Sections 33, 35, and 37 of the FCRA. The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently requested the CBI's involvement, leading to Talwar's arrest in July 2019 and subsequent interrogation.

Talwar remains under investigation for his alleged involvement in various aviation deals. He had previously been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January 2019 upon his deportation from Dubai, in connection with another aviation scandal. It is believed that Talwar acted as a middleman, securing favorable air traffic rights for foreign private airlines at the expense of Air India, in collusion with government officials during 2008-09. Additionally, Talwar's son, Aditya Talwar, is also being investigated in relation to these aviation cases, currently residing in Antigua and Barbuda.

The FCRA case against Advantage India revolves around allegations of "misutilization of foreign contributions" intended for educational and social activities in India under the CSR scheme. The funds were allegedly diverted for purposes other than their designated use.

“The funds were allegedly received mainly from a foreign-based company to the tune of ₹90.72 crore (approx) in the bank accounts of a New Delhi-based private firm/ NGO registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 for carrying out social welfare activities in the field of education,” the CBI spokesperson had said after the FIR was filed on November 16, 2017.

Image Source: OpIndia