India arrests environmental campaigners over alleged activities against the national interest

India's Enforcement Directorate says it searched activist Harjeet Singh's home and is investigating alleged foreign funds paid to promote a fossil fuel non‑proliferation treaty; Singh was arrested and later released on bail while the inquiry continues.

India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out searches at the home of environmental activist Harjeet Singh and at properties linked to Satat Sampada, the organisation he co-founded with his wife Jyoti Awasthi. The ED says it is investigating foreign inward remittances that it describes as consultancy payments allegedly intended to promote a fossil fuel non‑proliferation treaty in India. Singh was detained by police during the inquiry and later released on bail while the agency continues its probe. Key facts: - The ED alleges Singh and Awasthi received nearly £500,000 from foreign campaign groups to advocate for the fossil fuel non‑proliferation treaty. - Authorities searched Singh's home and Satat Sampada properties and say they are probing possible misdeclaration of foreign funds. - Singh was arrested by police during the inquiry and subsequently granted bail. - Singh and Awasthi say the reported allegations are baseless, biased and misleading, and legal processes are ongoing. Summary: The Enforcement Directorate frames the investigation as a probe into foreign funds and whether those funds were used to further an international treaty campaign that it says could affect national interests. The investigation is ongoing and the next procedural steps are undetermined at this time.