New Delhi: Any political outfits accepting foreign funds could be in trouble with the Union home ministry preparing a multi-ministry team to audit the funds received by parties to detect illegal funding.
Top government officials said all account books of the recognised political parties will soon face an intense scrutiny for the entire funding process. The MHA has written to the concerned ministries to appoint a nodal officer for constituting a multi-ministry team to audit the accounts of all political parties.
Sources said the MHA has already written to the ministries of corporate affairs and finance to nominate their representatives to the team to be formed to audit the account books of all the recognised political parties.
The home ministry’s move follows the Delhi High Court judgment that instructed the ministry to audit the accounts of all recognised political parties for any violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Sources said the MHA has also written to the Election Commission of India for facilitating the entire probe process involving the accounts books of the political parties that are submitted to the ECI also. Keeping in mind the humungous nature of the probe process, the FCRA wing of the MHA has decided to involve all the stakeholders in the probe.
The home ministry has to submit its first report to the Delhi High Court in the next six months.
