Climate Activist Arrested in Uttar Pradesh Amid Foreign Fund Investigation
Arrest of Climate Advocate
On Tuesday, Harjeet Singh, a climate activist, was taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh Police. This arrest followed a day after the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at locations associated with him, as part of an inquiry into alleged breaches of the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
Singh was apprehended under the Uttar Pradesh Excise Act after the state excise department lodged a complaint. This complaint stemmed from information provided by the central agency, which indicated that a significant amount of liquor was discovered at his residence in Ghaziabad during the raids.
The complaint noted that the liquor found was not authorized for sale in Uttar Pradesh, and it was reported that the quantity exceeded the limits set by the state government for possession.
Following his arrest, a local court granted bail to Singh.
The searches, which took place at three locations in Delhi and Ghaziabad linked to Singh and his organization, Satat Sampada Private Limited, were part of a broader investigation into the alleged misuse of foreign funds to influence energy sector policies.
Satat Sampada Private Limited also operates the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, co-founded by Singh and his spouse, Jyoti Awasthi.
As per the organization's website, their initiatives focus on sustainable agriculture, promoting traditional food systems, marketing organic products, and facilitating a shift away from fossil fuels, among other climate-related efforts.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate indicated that the searches were part of an investigation into suspicious foreign remittances exceeding Rs 6 crore received by Satat Sampada Private Limited from 2021 to 2025.
The agency claimed these funds were received under the guise of consultancy fees from foreign organizations, including Climate Action Network and Stand.earth, which had also received funding from entities like Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
ED, Hqrs. Office carried out a search operation on 05.01.2026 under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, at various premises in Delhi-NCR linked to M/s Satat Sampada Private Limited (SSPL). The searches were conducted as part of an ongoing… pic.twitter.com/82Gh4zXIiW
— ED (@dir_ed) January 6, 2026
However, the Enforcement Directorate noted that cross-checking the filings from the foreign remitters suggested that the funds were intended to promote the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty agenda in India.
This treaty is an international initiative aimed at limiting the growth of coal, oil, and gas production while advocating for a transition to renewable energy sources. Notably, India is not a participant in this initiative.
The agency asserted that the proposed treaty could lead to legal challenges for India in international forums and significantly jeopardize the nation's energy security and economic growth.
Furthermore, the Enforcement Directorate alleged that Satat Sampada Private Limited was being utilized as a facade to channel foreign funds to promote the treaty's agenda in India on behalf of foreign interest groups.
The agency is also looking into Singh's trip to Pakistan for the 'Breathe Pakistan Summit' last year, as well as his visit to Bangladesh during a time of anti-India protests, where he reportedly spoke at Sher-e-Bangla University without an official invitation and met with individuals unrelated to the stated purpose of his visit.
Additionally, the funding for these international trips is under investigation.
The statement further alleged that Singh and Awasthi misappropriated funds received from foreign NGOs for personal use.