The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated legal proceedings against Arunachal Pradesh-based lawyer and environmental activist Bhanu Tatak in connection with alleged infractions under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). According to the formal First Information Report, the activist is accused of accepting monetary transfers from overseas organizations and individuals directly into her personal savings account without securing the mandatory registration or prior governmental approval mandated by the statute.
Foreign Funding and Protest Allegations
Investigators claim that the monetary contributions originated from several international bodies, including the Philippines-based Asia Indigenous Peoples Network on Extractive Industries and Energy, Indigenous Peoples Rights International, Ireland-headquartered Front Line, and the United Kingdom-based Human Rights Resource Centre. The preliminary findings compiled by the agency indicate that these financial resources were deployed to organize and sustain demonstrations opposing major hydroelectric power initiatives across Arunachal Pradesh.
Legal Provisions and Tax Compliance
The FIR specifically names Tatak alongside unidentified individuals, citing sections 11(1), 17, 19, and 35 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010. Furthermore, the agency's initial inquiry suggests that the activist failed to submit her income tax returns spanning the financial years 2017-18 through 2025-26, thereby omitting any declaration regarding the receipt of funds from these external entities.
Opposition to Hydropower Projects
The accused activist serves as the legal adviser for the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum and acts as the coordinator for the civil society group Dibang Resistance. Both of these collectives have actively campaigned against multiple proposed hydroelectric undertakings within the region. Specifically, the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum has challenged the construction of the 12,500-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project situated along the Siang River. Meanwhile, Dibang Resistance has organized opposition against the 2,880-megawatt Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project. These infrastructure initiatives have faced sustained resistance from local indigenous communities and environmental defenders concerned with potential ecological, cultural, and safety repercussions.
