MHA transfers three officers following FCRA registration bribery arrests

The Ministry of Home Affairs initiated transfers of three officers working in its FCRA division following the arrest of two junior bureaucrats from the same unit on corruption charges. The arrested officials were accused of allegedly seeking bribes from applicants seeking to expedite the clearance of pending FCRA registrations, a critical process for non-governmental organisations receiving foreign funds.

The transfers were carried out within days of the arrests, indicating the ministry's attempt to address systemic issues within the division. FCRA registration is a mandatory requirement for organisations receiving foreign contributions, and delays in the approval process have been a persistent complaint among civil society groups and NGOs across India.

The arrests highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the FCRA clearance mechanism, where applicants have reported facing unofficial delays and demands for expedited processing. The bribery allegations suggest that some officials may have exploited their positions to extract payments from desperate applicants navigating the bureaucratic process.

The ministry has not disclosed the identities of the transferred officers or details regarding their new postings. Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the transfers were precautionary and part of a broader review of operational procedures within the FCRA division to prevent further misconduct and restore institutional credibility.