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CBI is probing Sonam Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh for alleged FCRA violations amid Ladakh protests, violence.
Sonam Wangchuk launched a hunger strike on September 10.
Ladakh Protests: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started a probe into alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) against an institution founded by Ladakh-based educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, officials said on Thursday.
According to officials, the probe agency began its inquiry into the funding of Wangchuk’s Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) two months ago. While no FIR has been registered yet, CBI officials have been scrutinising financial records for some time, news agency PTI reported.
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The climate activist, who has been vocal for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, confirmed the development with the news agency, saying that about ten days ago, a CBI team came with an order citing a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) alleging FCRA violations by the HIAL.
“The order said we have not taken clearance under FCRA to receive foreign funds. We don’t want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was foreign contribution,” he said.
The CBI team also visited the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), associated with Wangchuk, last week, and sought foreign fund details from 2022 and 2024.
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.
“It was a very dignified assignment. They saw it and they were convinced. They understood it is not helping them, so they began asking for accounts outside that period. Their mandate was to check for accounts during 2022-24, but they started asking for accounts of 2021 and 2020. Then they went to our school asking for various documents outside their mandate period and a school outside the complaint’s purview,” Wangchuk alleged.
HIAL and SECMOL give free education to young students who need it and cannot afford on their own. In HIAL, the students are also paid a stipend for various projects that they undertake and work upon.
The officials are also reviewing Wangchuk’s visit to Pakistan on February 6 this year.
Ladakh Unrest
The latest developments came amid accusations against the activist that he incited a mob that turned violent on Wednesday over the demand for statehood for Ladakh.
At least four people were killed and over 80 were injured after protests demanding statehood turned violent.
The BJP office was vandalised and set on fire, as were several vehicles. Flames and clouds of smoke could be seen from afar, with police resorting to firing and teargas shelling to bring the situation under control.
The Home Ministry has held Wangchuk responsible for “instigating the mob through his provocative speech.” Wangchuk, who had been on a 15-day hunger strike demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, ended his fast shortly after the violence broke out in Leh yesterday.
The Government said that during Wangchuk’s hunger strike, he invoked the recent Nepal Gen Z protests to incite people.
“Despite many leaders urging Wangchuk to call off the hunger strike, he continued with it, misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal,” said a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
(With inputs from agencies)
About the Author
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
September 25, 2025, 15:45 IST
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