NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to consider in three months a petition, which sought a CBI inquiry into allegations against Team Anna members that they had received funds from foreign organisations, including the Ford Foundation, to run their agitation for the Lokpal Bill.
A Bench comprising acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A S Chandhiok to treat the PIL as a representation and dispose it of in three months after giving a hearing to the petitioner.
The petition was filed by Manohar Lal Sharma, an advocate of the Supreme Court.
The Bench advised Sharma to submit a copy of his petition to the Home Ministry. Making Union of India, Ford Foundation and prominent members of Team Anna the respondents, Sharma cited a list of foreign organisations, which had contributed money to Team Anna.
He alleged that Team Anna, in the process, had violated the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
Sharma averred that FCRA mandates the members to seek permission from the Central Government to receive any funds from any foreign company or organisation. The members have violated FCRA and the Centre has failed to take any action against them, he alleged. With these averments, he sought the court to declare the agitation launched by Team Anna as illegal.
“Court be pleased to declare the foreign-sponsored agitation as illegal, unconstitutional...,” Sharma said.
The petitioner also sought prosecution of Team Anna members under FCRA.
Sharma sought a direction to “Union of India to conduct a CBI investigation against Team Anna members and others, and ask for an action taken report”.