Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC)

Tamil Nadu 

An urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on January 21, 2022 regarding CBI FIR and raids on the Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns (CPSC) and its program unit People’s Watch.

On January 6, 2022, the CBI registered a fresh FIR against CPSC, PW and represented by Executive Director, and Unknown Persons, under Section 120B r/w Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and offences under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. On January 8, 2022, from 10.30 am to 8.30 p.m., PW’s office in Madurai was raided by a team of 8-10 officials of the CBI, and documents were seized. 

The fresh FIR against CPSC and Mr. Tiphagne was registered by the CBI for alleged offences between 2010 and 2014. During this period, between 2012-2014, CPSC had its FCRA registration suspended thrice consecutively. On two occasions, MHA teams investigated the accounts. CPSC challenged the FCRA suspension before the Delhi High Court in 2014 and eventually the FCRA was restored in the same year, after MHA expressed no objection towards the same. Following this, CPSC continued to operate its FCRA accounts, until it was not renewed in 2016. 

The use of FCRA law to suppress dissent and NGOs is a violation of the Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution which grant freedom of speech and expression, association and work to all organisations, and the right to life.