Activist Medha Patkar’s NGO under ED lens over suspicious transactions in 12 bank accounts

New Delhi: Medha Patkar, the social activist who was at the forefront of Narmada Bachao Aandolan is in the crosshairs of investigative agencies as her NGO is understood to have carried out suspicious transactions, within a year of its foundation.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has tightened the noose around her NGO Narmada Nanirmaan Abhiyaan and is probing its 12 bank accounts for allegedly channelizing ‘bogus funds’.

According to reports, many complaints were lodged against her NGO Narmada Navnirman Abhiyan with agencies like ED, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Income Tax department against an NGO NNA, linked to her. She founded her NGO in 2004 and within years of it coming into existence, it raised donation amounting to crores in subsequent years. But, for the years, it continued to evade tax agencies.

The 12 bank accounts which are under lens of agencies, were opened with the State Bank of India and are in name of other organisation named Narmada Jeevan Shala. These accounts were opened between 2011 & 2018 and an amount of Rs 4.25 crore was deposited in this.

What raised strong doubts about dubious transactions was the transfer of a single amount from multiple sources and also all donations were made in just one day.

According to documents accessed by the Pioneer, Patkar’s NGO received funds from 20 sources and equal donation of Rs 5,96,294/- was made on 18th June 2005. All funds totalling Rs 1,19,25,880 were received in Bank of India account number 001010100064503.

Apart from this, the NGO also received Rs 62 lakh from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in 2020-2021. Transactions in this account are open to scrutiny but more than that the name of company is enough to send alarm bells ringing. The company is a Central Govt undertaking and it manufactures warships & submarines for the Indian Navy.