Foreign-Funded Sabotage: How anti-development activists target economic sovereign growth of Bharat

Over the past decade and a half, Bharat’s economic momentum and strategic infrastructure growth have repeatedly faced friction from non-governmental organisations and environmental activists operating under the guise of ecological conservation. While environmental stewardship is essential, a growing pattern of foreign-funded campaigns has raised serious concerns regarding national security and sovereign development. Reports and investigations between 2012 and 2026 highlight how international donations and covert foreign interests have frequently funnelled capital into domestic activist networks to stall key energy, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Under the pretext of local protest, these targeted disruptions have not only delayed vital national progress but have also threatened Bharat’s economic sovereignty and self-reliance. This report profiles nine environmental activists between 2012 and 2026 who faced allegations of illegal foreign funding and were central to protests halting India’s infrastructure and economic development. It uncovers how foreign money, allegedly tied to international organisations and political networks linked to the Congress party, was channelled into targeted campaigns against key dams, highways, nuclear power plants, and industrial hubs. Under the banner of environmental activism, these foreign-backed networks actively worked to derail critical national projects and sabotage Bharat’s path toward economic growth and self-reliance. CBI files FIR against Arunachal activist Bhanu Tatak over foreign funds On August 20, 2026, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR against Arunachal Pradesh lawyer and environmental activist Bhanu Tatak. Serving as legal adviser to the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum and co-ordinator for Dibang Resistance, Tatak was instrumental in organising anti-development protests aimed at halting major national projects, including the 12,500-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project and the 2,880-MW Dibang Hydropower Project. Investigators revealed that between 2022 and 2025, she received over Rs20.94 lakh in foreign currency transactions in her State Bank of India account without mandatory FCRA registration or prior approval. Reports highlight funding connections to international entities like the Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy (Philippines), Indigenous Peoples Rights International, Front Line Defenders (Ireland), and the Human Rights Resource Centre (UK). The probe also uncovered that Tatak evaded tax obligations by failing to file income tax returns from FY 2017–18 through 2025–26, prompting the Ministry of Home Affairs to hand over the case to the CBI. Notably, Tatak officially joined the Indian National Congress on December 2, 2025. ED Raids Harjeet Singh’s firm for Foreign remittances targeting India’s energy security On January 5, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate carried out raid operations across Noida and Ghaziabad targeting climate activist Harjeet Singh, his wife Jyoti Awasthi, and their firm, Satat Sampada Pvt. Ltd. Under the guise of promoting organic agriculture, the firm allegedly routed over Rs 6.52 crore in foreign remittances between 2021 and January 2025 by passing them off as consultancy earnings. These foreign transactions included Rs2.4 crore from Germany-based Climate Action Network, Rs 2.04 crore from Canada-based STAND. Earth, and Rs1.35 crore from US-based DEEL. Authorities reported that these international funds were funnelled to push for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, an initiative aimed at crippling India’s energy independence and stalling core fossil fuel developments. During the raids, state excise authorities also seized 45 litres of imported liquor over regulatory violations, leading to additional legal action. Manavi Anusha and AUMANA Foundation exposed in anti-Road campaign and Delhi agitation In July 2026, Rishikesh-based yoga activist Manavi Anusha and her organisation, the AUMANA Foundation, came under intense public scrutiny for leading targeted campaigns against essential infrastructure growth. Anusha initially spearheaded an aggressive digital campaign opposing the crucial Doon-Rishikesh Road expansion project, releasing sensationalized videos-including shaving her head-to emotionally manipulate the narrative and block regional connectivity. Days later, she was spotted on the ground at the Chalo Sansad agitation in New Delhi. Social media footage exposed her using vulgar language, making hostile remarks against law enforcement and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and actively inciting conflict during the protests. Anusha’s operations further exposed a broader network of coordinated protests driven by foreign-funded, FCRA-violating non-governmental networks intent on stalling national development. CBI chargesheets lawyer Ritwick Dutta for US-funded legal warfare against Indian Coal Projects On January 21, 2025, the CBI filed a chargesheet against prominent environmental lawyer Ritwick Dutta, his organisation Legal Initiative for Forest and Environment, and associate Rahul Choudhary for engaging in criminal conspiracy and violating the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Acting on directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs, investigators exposed how US-based entities, including Earthjustice and the Sandler Foundation, poured millions into Dutta’s NGO-transferring Rs41 lakh in 2013–14 and over Rs22 crore between 2016 and 2021. This massive influx of overseas capital was weaponized to file endless litigations, sabotage vital domestic coal mining initiatives, and weaken India’s economic and energy security under the pretence of environmental legal activism. CBI books environics trust directors for financing protests against Odisha steel plant In January 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation booked Ramamurthi Sreedhar, Managing Director of Environics Trust, alongside Finance Director Vanitha Sreedhar for serious FCRA violations aimed at obstructing key industrial projects. The CBI revealed that the NGO disbursed foreign money under the fraudulent pretence of cyclone relief, sending Rs1,250 each to 711 individuals in Dhinkia, Odisha, to actively finance local protests against the proposed JSW steel plant. Additionally, the trust diverted Rs30,000 from its foreign contribution account to tribal activist Deme Oram, who had previously been booked for rioting and unlawful assembly. The investigation underscored how foreign-funded activist networks misuse relief funds to incite unrest and delay multi-billion-dollar industrial projects. Medha Patkar faces probe over Siphoning off NGO funds for anti-development protests On July 10, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Police in Barwani registered an FIR against Narmada Bachao Andolan founder Medha Patkar and 11 others for the alleged siphoning of Rs13.5 crore. Collected under the banner of the Narmada Navnirman Abhiyan for tribal children’s welfare and education, the funds were instead illegally diverted to finance political agitations and sustain campaigns against crucial national infrastructure like the Sardar Sarovar and Maheshwar dam projects. Earlier investigations raised serious questions after finding Rs1.19 crore deposited into the trust’s accounts by 20 individuals in suspicious, uniform […]