CBI gets sanction to prosecute former Amnesty India chief Aakar Patel

The CBI on Tuesday informed the Delhi Sessions Court that the government had approved the prosecution of former Amnesty India chief Aakar Patel in an FCRA violation case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has informed the Delhi Sessions Court that the government had approved the prosecution of former Amnesty India head Aakar Patel in an FCRA violation case.

Sources said a letter was submitted before a relevant court on Rouse Avenue on Monday evening.

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The CBI had filed a charge sheet against Amnesty India and its former chief Aakar Patel for violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, last December. However, the trial could not start because no sanction was given by the government.

On Monday, a letter granting the sanction to prosecute Aakar Patel was submitted to the court. This means that the trial against Aakar Patel and Amnesty India can begin now.

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Aakar Patel had approached the court against a lookout circular (LOC) issued against him by the CBI. While the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court had asked CBI to withdraw the LOC, a sessions court overturned the magistrate court order.