SECMOL reportedly deposited foreign contributions in contravention of Sections 8, 12, 17, 18, and 19 of the FCRA. Wangchuk denied any wrongdoing, stating all funds were used for educational purposes.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, September 25, 2025: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the FCRA licence of the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an NGO founded by Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, citing alleged violations with immediate effect.
The ministry flagged that SECMOL received ₹4.93 lakh from the Swedish organisation Future Earth for youth-awareness programmes on migration, food security, organic farming, and “sovereignty of the nation.” The foreigners division of the MHA said such funds for projects related to sovereignty violated the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010.
The MHA also pointed to discrepancies between SECMOL’s annual reports and its reply to a show-cause notice issued on 10 September. Among the transactions under scrutiny was a deposit of ₹3.5 lakh by Wangchuk into SECMOL’s FCRA account during FY 2021-22.
SECMOL responded that the amount represented proceeds from the sale of a decade-old bus purchased with FCRA funds and had been deposited into the FCRA account as per rules. Wangchuk told ThePrint that the funds were intended as repayment to him for gifting a new bus to the NGO. “I gifted them a new bus and also left the money made from the sale of the old bus with the non-profit for their benefit, and I am being punished for that. This is a sad story and a punishment,” he said.
MHA cancels the FCRA license of Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO. https://t.co/xiKPpXRNJ5 pic.twitter.com/WhwnFTSSH4
— The Letter S (@WhyTheLetter_S) September 25, 2025
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The ministry, however, noted differences between the annual financial statement, which listed the funds as foreign contributions, and SECMOL’s explanation that the amount came from the sale of the bus.
Other alleged violations included:
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Three deposits of ₹18,200 each treated as local funds but mistakenly deposited in the FCRA account during FY 2021-22.
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Returning ₹19,600 to a donor from the Indian Institute of Management in violation of FCRA rules.
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Foreign funding of ₹79,200 during FY 2020-21 that was not deposited into the FCRA account but allegedly used to cover staff salaries and fellow stipends.
In its order, the MHA cited violations of Sections 8(1)(a), 17, 18, 19, and conditions under Section 12(4) of the FCRA. “NOW THEREFORE, considering the facts and position narrated… the Competent Authority hereby cancels with immediate effect the FCRA Certificate of Registration No. 152710012R granted to the association ‘Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh,’” the ministry stated.
The cancellation comes a day after the MHA accused Wangchuk of allegedly inciting protests in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule inclusion for Ladakh, which turned violent on 24 September. At least four people were killed and more than 50 injured in clashes with security forces. Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since 10 September, attributed the violence to “pent-up anger over the last five-six years.”
