Karnataka High Court Quashes ED Complaint Against Greenpeace NGO For Alleged FEMA Violations

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the environmental organization, Greenpeace India, for alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The ED had accused Greenpeace of not complying with the regulations governing the receipt of foreign contributions. However, the High Court found that the allegations were not substantiated with sufficient evidence. The court likely observed that the transactions in question did not fall foul of the specific provisions of FEMA cited by the ED or that the agency had not followed the due process of law. This ruling is a major relief for the non-governmental organization, as it sets aside the criminal proceedings initiated by the central agency. It also underscores the importance of a high standard of proof required for prosecuting alleged violations of foreign funding laws.