Karnataka HC Stays Money Laundering Proceedings Against Amnesty India & Ex-Director Aakar Patel For Alleged FCRA Violation

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (April 28) by way of an interim order stayed till the next date of hearing, proceedings initiated under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, againstM/s Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL) and its former director journalist and author Aakar Patel.

Justice Hemant Chandangoudar passed the interim order after issuing notice to the Directorate of Enforcement. It said, “Ld counsel for the petitioners submits that a coordinate bench of this court in Criminal Petition No 2508/2024 (G Ananthapadmanabhan) has granted interim order in favour A-3. The allegations against accused no 1 and 4 are similar, interim order as prayed for so far as petitioners are concerned, till the next date of hearing.”

The petitioners have approached the court seeking to quash the complaint 27.05.2022, filed by ED u/s 44,45(1),3,70,4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and to set aside the order taking cognizance dated 02.06.2022 passed by the special court. against the petitioners as accused no.1 and 4.

The money-laundering case was filed by ED following the cognisance of a CBI FIR against the accused, wherein allegations of violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 and under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are levelled.

The Enforcement Directorate said that in "2011-12, Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) had been granted permission under the FCRA, 2010 for receiving foreign contributions from Amnesty International, UK. The permission/registration had been subsequently revoked to this entity on the basis of adverse inputs received. However, two new entities, AIIPL and IAIT, were formed in 2013-14 and 2012-13 respectively to escape the FCRA route and these entities received foreign exchange in the guise of service export and FDI. Amnesty India denied the allegations of money-laundering levelled against them and said the charges are 'patently untrue'.

Case Title: M/S AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDIA PVT LTD (AIIPL) & ANR AND Directorate of Enforcement.

Case No: CRL.P 6402/2025.