New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS): The Enforcement Directorate is carrying out raids at the residence and offices of the retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Harsh Mander on Thursday in a financial fraud case.
The country's premier financial investigative agency is carrying out raids after taking cognizance of an FIR filed by Delhi Police regarding financial irregularities in the working of his non-government organisation.
This comes only hours after Mander and his wife left for Germany for a nine-month fellowship.
Delhi Police had filed a case against Mander's NGO Center for Equity Studies and two children home Ummed Aman Ghar and Khushi Rainbow Home.
It was based on the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) recommendation after the child rights body found various violations and discrepancies on part of the management during inspections.
During its inspection, the NCPCR had found that many violations of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and its Model Rules, 2016 and various other irregularities, including financial irregularities.
The NCPCR had also alleged that the registration of one of the homes had expired at the time of inspection, the staff and infrastructure was found inadequate and foreign nationals on employment and tourist visas were permitted to give voluntary services at the homes.
The Commission also alleged there was gross violation of the provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012. It stated that one of the employees had informed them about child sexual abuse cases being reported there, and inaction by the management.
The matter was immediately reported to Delhi Police to further investigate.
The NCPCR had carried out inspections after they received that a complaint from a Kalinga Rights Forum, alleging violations of the Juvenile Justice Act at the two homes.
As per the complaint, Mander's NGO was receiving "hefty funds" which were being "used for illicit activities like religious conversion".
It was in October 2020, that NCPCR had carried out inspection.