Karnataka High Court quashes 2019 ED complaint against Greenpeace in foreign funding case

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a 2019 complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the environmental NGO, Greenpeace India, in a case related to foreign funding. The ED had accused Greenpeace of violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) by receiving foreign contributions through a specific commercial entity. However, the High Court, after reviewing the case, found that the ED had not provided sufficient evidence to substantiate its claim of a FEMA violation. The court's decision to quash the complaint brings an end to this particular legal battle for the NGO. This ruling is significant as it reiterates that investigative agencies must have strong and credible evidence before initiating proceedings against any organization for alleged violations of foreign funding laws, thereby protecting them from unsubstantiated prosecution.