HC suspends CBI investigation against LIFE Mission CEO
text_fields
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to suspend enquiry against the Chief Executive Officer of the LIFE Mission, which is now embroiled in a foreign fund controversy.
The court observed that no provisions of the FCRA (Foreign Contributions Regulations Act) justify arraying, U V Jose, the officer as an accused.
Meanwhile, the court has allowed the Central investigation agency to continue enquiry against the other accused, including the contractors, in the case.
While issuing the court also observed that LIFE Mission has not received any foreign contribution directly from the sponsor (UAE Red Crescent).
A bench of Justice V G Arun also noted that the amounts received by the contractors are exempted from the definition of foreign contribution by virtue of provisions of the FCRA.
The case relates to the LIFE Mission project in Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district.
Anila Akkara MLA, in a complaint filed before the CBI on September 20, alleged that foreign contributions to the tune of 10 lakh AED were transferred to the contractors in violation of FCRA norms.