The CBI conducted the raids after it was tipped off by the Home Ministry.
Ten people, including five government officials, have been detained for taking bribe on behalf of non-profits for allegedly facilitating violations of rules in receiving foreign donations, sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Monday after a big nationwide crackdown across 40 locations.
The operation was launched after a complaint from the Union Home Ministry to the CBI in this regards, a home ministry spokesperson said.
The Home Ministry officials, say CBI sources, gave illegal Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearances to Non-Governmental Organisation or NGOs in exchange of bribe.
The sources added that public officials from the Home Ministry, NGO representatives and middleman were caught red-handed receiving bribe for securing foreign funding clearances. Twelve NGOs are under investigation, said the premier investigation agency.
Illegal transactions of around Rs 2 crore routed through hawala channels have been found, said the agency after searches in Delhi, Rajasthan, Chennai, Mysore, among others.