New Delhi: Two days after the income tax department carried out surveys at the offices of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), the Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF) and Oxfam, the three organisations released separate statements Friday saying that they were fully compliant with Indian laws and had cooperated with the tax officers during the survey exercise.
While Bengaluru-based IPSMF stated that it had “received no foreign funds at any stage, and funded only media entities”, Delhi-based think tank CPR said it had “all requisite approvals and sanctions, and is authorised by the government as a recipient under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act”.
Oxfam India, a non-profit, released a statement that said it was “compliant with Indian laws and has filed all its statutory compliances, including income tax and FCRA returns, in a timely manner since its inception”.
The IT surveys were carried out at over 100 locations across the country, including properties of businessmen and private individuals.
While the department has so far not issued any formal statement regarding the surveys, sources said they were conducted in connection with alleged violations under the FCRA.
A survey by the tax department is an investigative procedure meant to ascertain the actual income earned by a taxpayer for a financial year.
The states in which the surveys were carried out include Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Karnataka.
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IPSMF ‘received no foreign funds’
The IPSMF, in a statement issued by TN Ninan, chairman of its Board of Trustees, said: “The foundation believes that its affairs are entirely in order. Some media reporting on the IT (income tax) survey has linked it to foreign funding and the funding of political parties. We wish to make it clear that the foundation has received no foreign funds at any stage, and has funded only media entities.”
“The foundation believes in its mission of supporting independent and public-spirited media, and intends to continue its work,” it added.
According to the IPSMF statement, the foundation’s staff were cooperative (with the tax department personnel) and “answered all questions put to them on a wide range of matters”.
The foundation further stated that a team of income tax officials visited its Bengaluru office on Wednesday and stayed till 4.30 am “going through the papers and records of the foundation and asking questions”. It said that the officials took statements from three senior staff members and all laptops and mobile phones were taken for data cloning and returned on Thursday.
The statement added that all staff — other than CEO Sunil Rajshekhar — were allowed to go home at various stages in the evening and night of 7 September, and asked to return the following morning for further questioning.
“The CEO slept in the office for a few hours on the intervening night of September 7-8. The Board of Trustees compliments the staff on their good cheer and fortitude through the extended proceedings. The IT officials were courteous during their survey work,” the IPSMF statement read.
‘CPR has all requisite approvals’
A statement released by Yamini Aiyar, president and CEO of CPR, said the organisation is authorised by the Indian government as a recipient under the FCRA.
“Established in 1973, Centre for Policy Research is a non-profit, non-partisan independent institution, dedicated to conducting research that contributes to high quality scholarship, better policies and a more robust public discourse. As one of 24 research institutes of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research network, CPR has all requisite approvals and sanctions, and is authorised by the government as a recipient under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act,” the statement read.
“The income tax department visited our office to undertake a survey of CPR on 7th and 8th September 2022. We have extended full cooperation to the department during the survey, and will continue to do so in the future,” it added.
It further said the CPR has done “nothing wrong”.
“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of compliance and are confident that we have done nothing wrong. We are committed to working with the authorities to address any questions they might have,” it said, adding: “We remain committed to our mission to provide rigorous research to policymaking in India.”
Oxfam says survey done ‘without giving reason’
Oxfam alleged in a statement that the income tax survey was conducted “without giving a reason”. It also stated that Oxfam India was compliant with Indian laws and “filed all its statutory compliances, including income tax and FCRA returns, in a timely manner since its inception”.
The statement added that Oxfam India had cooperated with the department during the survey and was committed to doing so in the future.
It further said that in January 2022, a detailed week-long audit of FCRA accounts by auditors appointed by the FCRA division had been carried out.
“In times of growing inequality and greater need for action on poverty eradication, Oxfam India has been and will continue to work in public interest,” Oxfam said.
“We are guided by the principle of creating lasting solutions to address the injustice of poverty, to leave no one behind, and to end discrimination and create a free and just society. Oxfam India believes this is our constitutional duty as an organisation, irrespective of obstacles and hurdles in the path,” it added.
The statement further pointed out that the past eight months had been “distressing for Oxfam India”.
“In December 2021, the renewal of FCRA licence was denied by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Despite this, Oxfam India was conducting one of the largest civil society responses to the Covid crisis across 16 states in India. Oxfam India has provided lifesaving medical and diagnostic equipment to 150 District Hospitals, 172 Primary Health Centres, and 166 Community Health Centres in 16 states. 10 oxygen plants have also been set up and made operational across the country,” it said.
The NGO said that the tax survey and the home ministry’s refusal to renew Oxfam India’s FCRA registration will “not reduce our commitment to serve the vulnerable communities in the country and uphold values enshrined in the Indian Constitution”.
Disclosure: The IPSMF has commissioned stories and videos to ThePrint for the purpose of reporting and publishing stories of public interest in specific areas.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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