The premises of the beneficiaries of controversial multi-billionaire George Soros and his trust Open Society Foundation (OSF) have been raided by the Enforcement Directorate.
The ED launched extensive raids at the premises of the beneficiaries at Bengaluru, Karnataka. The raids were conducted across the city in connection with the alleged violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Over 6 employees of the Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch which are key beneficiaries of the OSF were being questioned. The ED’s line of questioning is in connection with a tranche of funds funnelled into their accounts.
At least four. Employees including D Raghunath and Nagesh Bhattacharya are under the ED’s scanner and are being questioned.
Over the last five years OSF has made some very generous donations in India as well as abroad to both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The donations are to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore, ED officials have learnt.
The OSF headed by Soros has also made donations in large numbers over the past ten years to so called watchdogs, media portals, research projects, seminars, think tanks. Even progenies retired and serving civil personnel have been given donations. Estimates show that the donations are to the tune of $18 billion.
The ED has between 2016 and 2023 attached several accounts of Amnesty International. These raids are being carried out to ascertain more funding patterns of the OSF. The ED has learnt that these funds were being used to unlawfully engineer protests or disturb peace in India. Some of the funds were also aimed at stalling developmental works in India, the ED has also learnt.
It had recently come to light that the US government had granted over $270 million to Soros’ organisations in the last 15 years. East-West Management Institute an organisation partnered with Soros’ OSF and got the money via USAID. There has been heavy scrutiny on the USAID Programme since Donald Trump took over as the President of the United States.
Soros is alleged to have used this money to spread chaos in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, India, UK and the US. Soros has also funded controversial initiatives in counties such as Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Albania and Uganda.
Recently Tesla chief and DOGE head, Elon Musk had blasted former president Joe Biden for awarding Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom which is the highest civilian order.
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