24 NGOs being probed by CBI: Minister

Christian NGOs are among a list of 24 being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the behest of the government.

Minister of State for Home R P N Singh informed to the Lok Sabha today the details of the NGOs currently being probed.

Singh said state police forces were also asked to probe into the alleged irregularities of 10 other NGOs which received funds from abroad.

The Minister said altogether Rs. 10,997.35 crore was received as foreign contribution by 23,172 NGOs across India in 2008â€"09, Rs 10,431.12 crore by 22,275 NGOs in 2009â€"10 and Rs 10,334.12 crore by 22,735 NGOs in 2010â€"11.

A PTI report revealed the names of the NGOs which included Tamil Nadu Muslim Muneetra Kazagham, Coimbatore; Reach in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu; Abul Kalam Azad Islamic Awakening Centre, New Delhi; Khwaja Khushal Charitable Trust, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh; Anjumane Hussamia Educational Association, Hyderabad.

In addition there were NGOs such as Vishwa Dharmayatan Trust, New Delhi;Heritage Foundation, Uttar Pradesh; IGEP Foundation, New Delhi; Samast Muslim Khalifa Sunnatwal Jamat Navsari, Gujarat; Evangelical Lutheran Church, Madhya Pradesh; Tuticorin Diocese Association, Tuticorin.

The Minister said those NGOs whose cases were given to state police are : Rajasthan Harvest Ministries, Jaipur; Matsyagandhi Mahila Welfare Association, Andhra Pradesh; Madrasa Jamiyad Ravatulâ€"eâ€"Hat, Gujarat; Mount View Academy, Madurai; and Reach International Education and Social Welfare Trust, Tamil Nadu.

In February, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had blamed some US-based NGOs for putting difficulties in launching the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu.

Government had also probed fundings of around 12-13 voluntary organisations which were launching the protest movement in Kudankulam.