On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches on the premises linked to former Indian Administrative Service officer and social activist Harsh Mander in connection with a money laundering probe.

Sources in the ED said, the Central financial probe agency registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on an FIR registered by the Delhi Police against Mander and an NGO, Equity Studies, linked to him.

The searches were carried out at Adchini, Mehrauli and Vasant Kunj in south Delhi, hours after Mander left for Germany along with his wife for a six-month fellowship programme at the Robert Bosch Academy. He serves as the director of the Centre for Equity Studies (CSE).

The raid began at 8 am at his residence in Vasant Kunj and his office at the Centre for Equity Studies office in Adhchini, sources told The Indian Express. The children’s home run by the activist in Mehrauli was also reportedly raided by the ED.

“The ED investigation is related to an FIR registered by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing in February,” said a senior agency official. 

Delhi Police had filed a case against the two NGOs under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act over alleged violations of rules governing such bodies. The case was registered under sections 75 (cruelty to children) and 83(2) (use of children in illegal activities) of the Juvenile Justice Act, while also invoking Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of the registrar of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against alleged violations in Umeed Aman Ghar and Khushi Rainbow Home in south Delhi, both established by the CSE. 

Several activists and public intellectuals Thursday condemned the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids carried out at multiple locations in the city connected to retired IAS officer and activist Harsh Mander. They said the raids were a part of a “continuing chain of abuse of state institutions” to silence its critics.

The 29 persons who signed the statement include activist Aruna Roy, former Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed, Economist Jean Dreze, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, DU Professor Apoorvanand, women’s activists Kavita Krishnan and Annie Raja among others.

Image courtesy: Times of India