ED blocks Greenpeace India's 12 accounts

The Enforcement Directorate has stopped operations of Greenpeace India Society’s 12 accounts with different banks and three current accounts of a private company pending an ongoing probe into suspected foreign exchange rule violations.

According to an ED official, searches were earlier conducted at the office premises of Direct Dialogue Initiatives India Private Limited, set up in October 2016, which is housed in the same building where Greenpeace India has its office.

In a statement released on Thursday, the NGO said that “every rupee that goes into Greenpeace India’s environmental work is a donation made by ecologically conscious people in the country… We strongly object to attempts of defaming Greenpeace India through false claims and accusations.”

It said the accusations seemed to be part of a larger design to muzzle democratic dissent in the country.

“We do not have anything to hide and are ready to provide the government authorities with financial details as required. At the same time, we will reserve the right to constitutionally challenge attempts to malign our very existence as an independent environmental organisation,” said the NGO.