The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) licence of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), with immediate effect.

The decision follows a preliminary inquiry by the CBI into alleged violations of the FCRA by Wangchuk and the institution he founded. The cancellation comes a day after four individuals were killed in violence and police firing during statehood protests in Leh. The MHA stated that the “mob was incited” by Wangchuk’s “provocative statements.”

In his order, Deputy Secretary Rajesh Kumar T noted that a Show Cause Notice (SCN) was issued to the NGO on August 20, followed by a reminder on September 10, and the association submitted its response on September 19. Upon examination, the ministry concluded that several FCRA violations had occurred, including:

A deposit of Rs 3.5 lakh by Wangchuk in the NGO’s FCRA account in 2021–22, which the MHA said violated Section 17 of the Act.
Local contributions of Rs 54,600 were incorrectly deposited in the FCRA account in 2020–21.
Receipt of Rs 4.93 lakh from a foreign donor, Framstidjorden of Future Earth Institute, for purposes beyond permissible objectives under Section 12(4).
Foreign contributions of Rs 79,200 not credited to the FCRA account.
The MHA stated that these acts were “against the national interest of the country.”

The ministry emphasized that the decision is in line with FCRA provisions, aiming to ensure transparency and adherence to national regulations for foreign funding.