Targeted for human rights work: Indira Jaising on CBI raids
New Delhi, Jul 11 (IBNS): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday raided the properties of senior lawyers Indira Jaising and her husband Anand Grover after the duo is accused of violating a law on foreign funding.
Raids started around 5 am at the home of Indira Jaising in Delhi's Nizamuddin.
The CBI also raided the offices of Anand Grover's NGO Lawyers Collective in Delhi and Mumbai.
The probe agency had earlier filed an FIR against Anand Grover and Lawyers Collective for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
Indira Jaising and Anand Grover are popular names in the public interest and civil rights litigation in India.
Their names have been associated with several significant cases linked to gender justice, gay rights, labour and health care.
The CBI's First Information Report was filed on the basis of a Home Ministry complaint.
The FIR does not name Indira Jaising as an accused but the ministry complaint reportedly referred to her alleged role.
The case relates to the time period when Indira Jaising served as the Additional Solicitor General between 2009 and 2014.
Her foreign trips were reportedly funded by the NGO without Home Ministry approval.
The FIR also mentions that Jaising, during this time, received Rs. 96.60 lakh from Lawyers Collective without seeking government permission.
However, Indira Jaising stated that since the Additional Solicitor General is a public servant and not a government servant, so there was no ban on receiving foreign contributions.
Meanwhile, Anand Grover and his NGO have been accused of misusing foreign contributions.
According to reports, the Home Ministry noticed irregularities in 2010.
"Mr Grover and I are being targeted for the human rights work that we have done over the years," said Indira Jaising.
Over 20 lawmakers have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the raids.
"We, the undersigned individuals strongly condemn the raids... This, latest in a long line of coercion and intimidation of Ms Jaising and Mr Grover, is nothing short of a brute show of intimidation as well as gross abuse of power," the letter read.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also slammed the raids and tweeted: "strongly condemn CBI raids on well-known senior advocates @IJaising and Mr Anand Grover. Let the law take its own course but subjecting veterans who have all through their lives fought for upholding the rule of law and constitutional values is clear vendetta."
I strongly condemn CBI raids on well known senior advocates @IJaising and Mr Anand Grover. Let the law take its own course but subjecting veterans who have all through their lives fought for upholding the rule of law & Constitutional values is clear vendetta
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 11, 2019
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