NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has begun an inquiry into alleged violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act against an institution founded by Ladakh-based educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, officials said on Thursday.
There has been an inquiry going on for some time but no FIR has been registered yet, they said.
Wangchuk said the matters the complaint refers to were service agreements with taxes duly paid to the government. They pertained to India exporting knowledge to the United Nations, Swiss University and an Italian organisation, he said.
“The CBI officers are still camping in Ladakh and rigorously going through records,” Wangchuk said, adding that they have not questioned him.
The activist said first, the local police filed a sedition case against him. This was followed by an order taking back the land given for HIAL, citing that the lease amount was not paid.
“Everyone knows, we have documents to show. The government had almost been apologetic in saying that their lease policy is not formed and hence it cannot take fee. It said ‘please bear with us and continue constructions’,” he claimed.
Wangchuk alleged that this was followed by the CBI action and income tax summons.
“The funny part is, Ladakh is one place where there is no tax. Yet I voluntarily pay taxes, and I get summons. Then they resurrected a four-year-old complaint that labourers were not paid properly. It is guns blazing from all sides on us,” he alleged.
Wangchuk had started a hunger strike on September 10, pressing for Ladakh’s inclusion in the Sixth schedule and for statehood.
The cold desert region witnessed the worst violence since 1989 on Wednesday, when groups of youths indulged in arson and vandalism, targeting the BJP headquarters and the Hill Council, and set ablaze vehicles.
Police and paramilitary forces had to lob teargas shells to bring the situation under control, officials said.
