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BJP sources allege that Wangchuk used the guise of activism to incite public sentiment, while his organisations and personal finances are under scrutiny for potential misconduct
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday cancelled the FCRA registration of Wangchuk-led SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), citing multiple violations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. File pic/PTI
In the midst of heightened tensions and recent violence in Ladakh, top BJP sources have levelled serious accusations of financial irregularities against activist Sonam Wangchuk, the prominent face of the protest movement. These sources allege that Wangchuk has used the guise of activism to incite public sentiment, while his organisations and personal finances are under scrutiny for potential misconduct. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday cancelled the FCRA registration of SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), citing multiple violations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started probing alleged FCRA violations against the Wangchuk-led institute.
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According to the sources, the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), founded by Wangchuk, has been flagged for a significant increase in donations, soaring from Rs 6 crore in FY 2023-24 to over Rs 15 crore in the subsequent fiscal year. The sources claim that out of seven accounts for HIAL, four remain undeclared, and the organisation allegedly received over Rs 1.5 crore in foreign remittances without a mandatory FCRA registration, a direct violation of Section 11 of the FCRA 2010.
Similar allegations have been made against the Students Educational and Culture Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), which is claimed to have six undeclared accounts out of a total of nine. A new private firm, Sheshyon Innovations Private Limited, with Wangchuk as a director, has also come under the scanner. Sources allege a large transfer of Rs 6.5 crore from HIAL to this private company and note a drastic drop in its net profit, from 6.13% to just 1.14% in one year.
The allegations extend to Wangchuk’s personal finances. According to the sources, he has nine personal bank accounts, with eight of them undeclared. These accounts have allegedly received substantial foreign funds, and he has reportedly transferred over Rs 2.3 crore abroad since 2021. This has prompted concerns about potential money laundering, as these outward remittances were made to “unknown entities”. The BJP sources also point out that while Wangchuk criticises the corporate sector, his organisations have received significant CSR funds, including from central government PSUs. These claims, if proven, could undermine Wangchuk’s credibility and risk derailing the genuine concerns of the Ladakhi people into a matter of personal and political gain.
About the Author
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office….Read More
Aman Sharma, Executive Editor – National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office…. Read More
September 25, 2025, 18:54 IST
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