The Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) which took up the case of violations of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) against the Tuticorin-based NGO, Jesus Redeems wrote a detailed letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, wherein the LRPF highlighted four critical issues that it contends are offensive and indicative of violations by the church-linked organization. The LRPF asserts that these issues warrant a thorough investigation and the suspension of the FCRA license associated with Jesus Redeems.
Mohan Lazarus's Jesus Redeems NGO Accused Of Serious FCRA Violations, Complaint Filed To Cancel FCRA License @lrpftnunit @lawinforce #TamilNadu #FCRA #TNNews #MohanCLazarushttps://t.co/VO464lJPYC
— BJP Sashi Kumar Subramony 🇮🇳 (@BjpSashi) November 17, 2023
The legal activist group has drawn attention to what it perceives as breaches of FCRA provisions by the Tuticorin-based NGO, adding a layer of complexity by implicating the founder director, Mohan C. Lazarus, as a known criminal offender. The LRPF’s move suggests a concerted effort to scrutinise the activities of Jesus Redeems and raise concerns about potential improprieties in its financial dealings.
Lazarus, a Christian evangelist, is accused of being both a donor and a recipient of foreign funds
‘Jesus Redeems’ is a Christian religious organisation based in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi), Tamil Nadu, with an FCRA registration number. Mohan Lazarus is the founder and signature authority of ‘Jesus Redeems’.
In the recent past, Tamil Nadu-based Jesus Redeems’ got significant foreign funding from the US-registered Public Charity company ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc’, which is situated in California.
According to LRFP, Mohan Lazarus is also the CEO of the US-registered ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc’, citing copy of ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc’ annual returns. It signifies that Mohan C. Lazarus is a member of both the receiving and the donor organisations.
The recent amendments to the rules of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 clearly state that the Chief Functionary of the recipient Indian organisation should not be a part of the donor organisation.
‘Jesus Redeems’ got foreign funding from a Chinese-linked mining company that was transferred through Nigeria
In 2016, ‘Jesus Redeems’ received a foreign contribution of Rs. 6,21,274 from an individual named BRO Devakumar VG Edwin, who is managing director of Dangote Group, Nigeria.
Dangote Group is a Mining conglomerate based out of Nigeria with extremely close ties with Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd which is a Chinese State-owned and state-administered company.
In its complaint, LRPF requested MHA to investigate the motive of Tuticorin based Jesus Redeems on having ties with a mining company that close nexus with Chinese state-owned enterprises in donating to an Indian NGO.
Engagement of Jesus Redeems in Publication Activity
Jesus Redeems publishes Christian literature monthly magazines in Tamil, English, Hindu, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam languages. For all these magazines Mohan Lazarus is the editor-in-chief, owner, and publisher.
As per the FCRA Act, 2010 rules, the NGOs or Chief functionaries of the NGOs who are engaged in publishing activity and registered under the Press Registration of Books Act, 1867 are required to furnish details regarding such publications and also give a declaration. LRPF requested MHA to investigate whether Mr Mohan Lazarus had submitted such a certificate or even informed them about such activity of publication of the magazine on behalf of Jesus Redeems.
Criminal History of the Mohan Lazarus of Jesus Redeems
According to the LRPF, Mohan Lazarus is infamous for causing religious dissension and communal conflicts among various religious groups. Multiple FIRs were filed against him at various police stations in Tamil Nadu state under Indian Penal Code Sections 153, 153-A(1)(a) & (b), 295-A, 505(1)(b), and 505(2) for uttering remarks against Hindu Temples and Hindu Gods at a big religious gathering.
According to LRPF, citing the above cases, the Regional Passport Officer refused to issue a new passport to Mr Mohan Lazaru because he intentionally concealed the fact that he had four criminal cases pending against him during the submission of the passport application.
Suspicious Motive In Receiving Foreign Funds
According to LRPF, Jesus Redeems got funding from Compassion International redirected through Caruna Bal Vikas, a Chennai-based NGO, between 2009 and 2015.
In 2020, The Economic Offenses Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation, has registered a case against Caruna Bal Vikas which declared its long-term objective of ‘converting poor children into fulfilled Christian adults’, and thus engaged in religious activities including conversions to Christianity.
In 2017, the Government of India banned Compassion International (US) from funding to Indian NGOs due to a number of controversies involving child conversion and generating finances through child sponsorship schemes both globally and in India.
LRPF demands that Jesus Redeem’s objectives are identical to those of Caruna Bal Vikas, as both are involved in Christian evangelism and active religious conversion, both of which have the potential to disrupt community harmony and hence (are) in violation of the FCRA, 2010.
By furnishing the above details and data, LRPF requested MHA to investigate on Tamil Nadu-based Jesus Redeems organisaiton and suspend its FCRA license.
As this development unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Ministry of Home Affairs responds to the LRPF’s request for an investigation and the suspension of Jesus Redeems’ FCRA license. The accusations against the founder director further add a layer of complexity to the situation, potentially impacting the organization’s standing and raising questions about the broader implications for religiously affiliated NGOs in India.
The LRPF’s involvement in this matter highlights the role of legal activist groups in monitoring and advocating for accountability in the activities of non-governmental organisations, particularly those receiving foreign contributions. The outcome of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ investigation, if initiated, will likely have broader implications for the regulatory landscape governing NGOs in India and the adherence to FCRA provisions.
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