In a significant move, the Union Home Ministry announced on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the cancellation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration for the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an organization founded by prominent Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The Ministry cited alleged violations as the reason for this action. Separately, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also probing another non-profit organization established by Mr. Wangchuk over similar allegations.
This development comes just a day after clashes erupted in Leh, Ladakh, during ongoing protests advocating for statehood and tribal status for the region. The unrest tragically resulted in four deaths and numerous injuries. The Ministry later claimed that a crowd, incited by what it called “provocative statements” from Sonam Wangchuk, was responsible for the violence.
The Ministry’s decision to cancel SECMOL’s FCRA registration stems from several alleged breaches of regulations. A show-cause notice was initially issued to SECMOL on August 20, requesting explanations for these violations, followed by a reminder email on September 10.
After reviewing SECMOL’s responses, the Ministry concluded that multiple rules had been broken. One instance involved a deposit of ₹3.5 lakh into SECMOL’s FCRA account during the 2021-22 fiscal year, which was recorded as proceeds from the sale of an old bus purchased with FCRA funds in 2015. Despite the explanation, the Ministry deemed it “not tenable,” as the amount was received from Mr. Wangchuk and categorized by the organization as a “foreign donation.”
In response, Mr. Wangchuk informed a prominent publication that while he founded the school, he is no longer involved in its day-to-day management. He stated, “I cannot comment on details of the FCRA cancellation except the donor-related part. I am no longer in a management role. I founded it but now I teach them sometimes.” Regarding the ₹3.5 lakh allegation, he asserted it was baseless, explaining, “The Rs 3.5 lakh… mentioned in the notice is from the proceeds of the sale of an old bus by the school. Since I donated ₹17 lakh to buy a new bus, I refused to take back ₹3.5 lakh. It stayed in the bank account with a note saying that the money belongs to Sonam Wangchuk. The Ministry thinks this is a foreign contribution for me which does not show an entry. I am being punished for not taking a loan from a school which teaches poor children.”
Another alleged violation involved ₹54,600 in local funds that were “inadvertently” deposited into the FCRA account in 2020-21 by three individuals, with ₹18,200 from each. Furthermore, in 2021-22, SECMOL received ₹4.93 lakh from Framtidsjorden, a Swedish organization, for “awareness on youth migration, food security, and sovereignty.” The government deemed accepting foreign funds for studies concerning “national sovereignty” as a breach of FCRA regulations.
That same year, SECMOL refunded ₹19,600 that a volunteer had sent for food and accommodation, citing disruptions caused by COVID-19. However, the Ministry clarified that the FCRA does not permit such refunds.
Additionally, SECMOL’s annual return for 2020-21 reported a single foreign contribution receipt of ₹79,200, which was not credited to the account. The organization explained that these funds were directly deducted from staff salaries and stipends for food expenses, an explanation the Ministry cited as indicative of poor financial recordkeeping and, therefore, a violation.
In a separate but related matter, the CBI is investigating suspected FCRA violations by the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), another institution established by Mr. Wangchuk. While no formal case has been registered, HIAL reportedly lacks the necessary FCRA clearance to receive foreign contributions.
Approximately a week prior to these developments, a CBI team visited the premises of both HIAL and SECMOL to gather details on foreign funds received between 2020 and 2024.