MADURAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against the Madurai-based NGO, Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC), and its programming unit, People’s Watch, on charges of misusing foreign funds. Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People’s Watch, has termed the case a ‘vilification’ attempt.

While the complaint was submitted to the CBI, economic offences zone (EOZ), in New Delhi in 2014 by the then director of home ministry’s FCRA wing, A K Sinha, the EOZ registered a case against both organisations and other unknown people on Thursday under sections 420 (cheating) of IPC and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), after the state government conveyed its consent to CBI to probe the allegations.

According to the FIR, a home ministry team conducted inspection of accounts and records of CPSC in 2012 for the period between 2005 and 2011. A follow-up inspection done in 2014 for the period between 2011 and 2013 unravelled the violations of FCRA.

The FIR states that CPSC withdrew 28 lakh in 2012 after its FCRA registration was suspended, and another 44.50 lakh between 2011 and 2013. It has also stated that 1.70 crore it withdrew from 2008 to 2012 did not tally with the vouchers submitted. People’s Watch has been accused in the FIR of having been direct recipients of foreign funds and that the association had used them for reasons other than what was intended.

The organisation’s executive director Henri Tiphagne said on Sunday that they believe in being transparent and are co-operating with CBI officials. He also added that many human rights activists are being targeted for the work they do and that their work towards upholding human rights will continue.