The agency is currently examining the financial records of Wangchuk and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), the institute founded by him.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a preliminary enquiry against Ladakh-based activist Sonam Wangchuk and an institute he founded. Officials said the probe relates to alleged violations of foreign funding laws.
According to officials, the CBI started the preliminary enquiry (PE) about two months ago. The probe is based on a reference from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The enquiry is the first step before filing a formal case or first information report (FIR).
The agency is currently examining the financial records of Wangchuk and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), the institute founded by him. Officials also confirmed that Wangchuk was called by the CBI to appear before it, but he has not yet responded.
A senior officer, who did not want to be named, said, “The agency is going through the financial statements of HIAL and Wangchuk.”
Wangchuk told news agency PTI that a CBI team visited HIAL and the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) last week. The officials sought details of foreign funds received between 2022 and 2024.
“The order said we have not taken clearance under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) to receive foreign funds. We don’t want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was a foreign contribution,” Wangchuk claimed.
Alongside the funding probe, the Centre has accused Wangchuk of inciting violence in Ladakh. The ministry said his speeches and protests misled people by referring to the Arab Spring and recent Gen Z protests in Nepal.
“A hunger strike was started by Sonam Wangchuk on September 10, stating the demand of (bringing the UT under) the 6th schedule (of the constitution) and statehood for Ladakh,” the MHA said in a statement.
The ministry added that the government has been actively engaging with local groups such as the Apex Body Leh (ABL) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). It said discussions were being held through a high-powered committee, a sub-committee, and several informal meetings with local leaders.
The demands on which Wangchuk was on a hunger strike are an integral part of the discussion in HPC. Despite many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, he continued with the hunger strike and misleading the people through provocative mentions of Arab Spring-style protests and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal,” the ministry said.
The ministry shared the sequence of events from Wednesday’s violence in Ladakh. It said that around 11:30 am, a mob allegedly instigated by Wangchuk’s speeches left the hunger strike venue. The mob then attacked a political party office and the government office of the Leh chief.
“They also set these offices on fire, attacked the security personnel, and torched a police vehicle. The unruly mob attacked the police personnel, including more than 30 police/CRPF personnel. The mob continued to destroy the public property and attack the police personnel. In self-defence, police had to resort to firing, in which, unfortunately, some casualties were reported,” the ministry statement said.
