The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is administering a preliminary probe into violations (alleged) of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL). Officials said the probe began about two months ago after a reference from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). No FIR has been registered yet, making the process a preliminary assessment of financial and procedural compliance.
Scrutiny of finances and non-response
The agency is examining the financial statements of HIAL and Wangchuk. Wangchuk was reportedly summoned by the CBI but has not appeared. He told PTI, “The order said we have not taken clearance under FCRA to receive foreign funds. We don’t want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was a foreign contribution.” Last week, a CBI team visited HIAL and the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) to collect details of foreign funds received between 2022 and 2024.
Protests and political fallout
The MHA accused Wangchuk of instigating violence in Ladakh after his hunger strike demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Protests reportedly escalated into attacks on political and government offices, and more than 30 police and CRPF personnel were injured. Police allegedly resorted to firing in self-defence. The ministry said Wangchuk’s demands are already under discussion in the High-Powered Committee and alleged he misled the public by referencing Arab Spring-style protests and Gen Z movements in Nepal.
The preliminary enquiry highlights the point of liaison of activism, governance, and legal compliance in Ladakh. Wangchuk, a high-profile climate activist and education innovator, has become a keystone when it comes to debates in regard to questions of autonomy, statehood, and the regulation of foreign-funded initiatives in strategically sensitive regions.
