Global climate advocacy group Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative said it was concerned by the detention of one of its advisers in India, after climate campaigner Harjeet Singh was held overnight and later released on bail as authorities investigate alleged foreign funding linked to his advocacy work.
Alex Rafalowicz, the group’s global director, said Singh was granted bail the day after his detention following consideration of the merits of the case, adding that the organisation was awaiting the outcome of the investigation and was not in a position to comment on specific aspects.
“We are concerned by the news and are following the situation closely,” Rafalowicz said in a statement, reiterating that equity and justice were at the core of the initiative’s work, which focuses on supporting just, orderly and equitable energy transitions, particularly in developing and vulnerable countries.
Singh’s detention on Monday followed searches by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED), a federal law enforcement agency under the finance ministry that investigates economic offences and violations of foreign exchange laws. The agency said it conducted searches at Singh’s residence in the New Delhi region and at properties linked to Satat Sampada, a company he co-founded with his wife, Jyoti Awasthi.
In a statement, the ED alleged that Singh and Awasthi had received nearly GBP500,000 pounds (US$640,000) from foreign climate campaign groups to advocate for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, saying the funds were transferred in the form of consultancy fees and product sales. The agency said cross-verification of filings made by overseas remitters indicated the funds were intended to promote the treaty’s agenda within India.
The ED added that while the initiative was presented as a climate campaign, its adoption could expose India to legal challenges in international forums and undermine the country’s energy security and economic development.
Tzeporah Berman, founder and chair of the initiative, said the proposed fossil fuel treaty was based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities for the climate crisis and recognised the need for different national pathways and timelines. She said the initiative did not seek to pressure any developing country to join and that 18 developing countries were supporting it on a voluntary basis.
The ED also said that during the searches it recovered alcohol exceeding permissible limits at Singh’s residence and informed local authorities, leading to his arrest in an excise-related case.
The ED said it was examining overseas travel undertaken by Singh last year, including trips to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and how those visits were financed.
Singh and Awasthi denied the allegations. In a joint statement, they said they were legally constrained from sharing details of the case but described the claims being reported as “baseless, biased and misleading”.
Singh has worked for more than two decades with international development and climate organisations, including ActionAid and the Climate Action Network, and is a regular presence at United Nations climate negotiations. At COP30 in November, he called for more funding to address loss and damage.
Civil society organisations in India have faced increased scrutiny in recent years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with government data showing more than 16,700 non-governmental organisations have had their registrations to receive foreign funding cancelled or not renewed since 2014, forcing many to shut down.
An Enforcement Directorate official quoted by local media said the investigation into Singh was linked to broader scrutiny of foreign-funded advocacy campaigns that authorities say could be detrimental to India’s energy security.
The agency also alleged that Satat Sampada had operated at a loss until 2021, when payments classified as consultancy services and product sales significantly improved its financial position. Singh and Awasthi said they founded the company in 2016 using personal savings and loans secured against their home, and that its consultancy and management services expanded after Singh left full-time employment to focus on its work.
