After Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan, the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged financial irregularities linked to the Punarjani housing project involving the NGO Manappatt Foundation and its CEO. The project, led by Satheesan during his tenure as an MLA, aimed to build houses for those affected by the 2018 floods.
Allegations have emerged that the NGO’s CEO, Ameer Ahmed, in collaboration with Satheesan, raised funds from foreign countries between 2018 and 2022 for flood rehabilitation, reportedly breaching norms. The VACB suggested a CBI investigation against Satheesan following a preliminary inquiry into the misappropriation of foreign funds collected for post-flood reconstruction.
The Vigilance Director has submitted a report to the state government seeking a federal investigation under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) due to the international nature of the fund collection. The VACB findings indicate that the Manappatt Foundation received Rs 1.22 crore from the UK during the 2018–22 period.
“The probe revealed substantial amounts raised from expatriates in Middle Eastern countries without required clearances under the FCRA,” a senior official stated. The NGO and its CEO were found to have a significant role in managing the funds, with a considerable portion of the collected sum unaccounted for in official records.
