<p>Calling allegations of money laundering “patently untrue,” Amnesty International India on Saturday said curbing its critics under repressive laws has become routine for the current Indian government.</p>.<p>The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that London-based Amnesty International sent huge amount of foreign contribution to its Indian entities (AIIPL), during November 2013-June 2018, "in guise of business activities" to escape FCRA scrutiny.</p>.<p>The ED Friday said it has <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ed-penalises-amnesty-india-aakar-patel-for-fema-violation-1124917.html" target="_blank">issued a penalty</a> of more than Rs 61 crore against Amnesty India and its former head Aakar Patel for allegedly contravening the Indian foreign exchange law.</p>.<p>Reacting, the Amnesty India International called the allegations false.</p>.<p>“We reiterate that the allegations of @dir_ed, a financial investigation agency under @FinMinIndia, that Amnesty International India was involved in 'money laundering', are patently untrue,” the Amnesty International India said in a tweet.</p>.<p>“The malicious intent of the Enforcement Directorate is evident from the fact that they have yet again issued multiple press releases even before legal notices have reached @AIIndia and @Aakar__Patel. This is a violation of the principles of natural justice,” the human rights group said in one of the several tweets it made.</p>.<p>“Since September 2020, the bank accounts of Amnesty International India remain frozen with no means to pay full dues to ex-employees or for the services of lawyers engaged to fight the multiple court cases initiated by the Government of India,” the group said in another tweet.</p>.<p>“As a member of the @UN_HRC, India is required to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. On the contrary, putting a squeeze on its critics through trumped-up charges under repressive laws has become routine for this Indian Government,” it said.</p>
<p>Calling allegations of money laundering “patently untrue,” Amnesty International India on Saturday said curbing its critics under repressive laws has become routine for the current Indian government.</p>.<p>The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that London-based Amnesty International sent huge amount of foreign contribution to its Indian entities (AIIPL), during November 2013-June 2018, "in guise of business activities" to escape FCRA scrutiny.</p>.<p>The ED Friday said it has <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ed-penalises-amnesty-india-aakar-patel-for-fema-violation-1124917.html" target="_blank">issued a penalty</a> of more than Rs 61 crore against Amnesty India and its former head Aakar Patel for allegedly contravening the Indian foreign exchange law.</p>.<p>Reacting, the Amnesty India International called the allegations false.</p>.<p>“We reiterate that the allegations of @dir_ed, a financial investigation agency under @FinMinIndia, that Amnesty International India was involved in 'money laundering', are patently untrue,” the Amnesty International India said in a tweet.</p>.<p>“The malicious intent of the Enforcement Directorate is evident from the fact that they have yet again issued multiple press releases even before legal notices have reached @AIIndia and @Aakar__Patel. This is a violation of the principles of natural justice,” the human rights group said in one of the several tweets it made.</p>.<p>“Since September 2020, the bank accounts of Amnesty International India remain frozen with no means to pay full dues to ex-employees or for the services of lawyers engaged to fight the multiple court cases initiated by the Government of India,” the group said in another tweet.</p>.<p>“As a member of the @UN_HRC, India is required to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. On the contrary, putting a squeeze on its critics through trumped-up charges under repressive laws has become routine for this Indian Government,” it said.</p>