Addressing a press conference, Home Minister P Chidambaram said Sonnteg Reiner Hermann was sent back to Frankfurt on a flight on Tuesday because his conduct here was certainly not consistent with a person who comes here as a tourist.
The minister also disclosed that cases have been filed against four NGOs after it was found prima facie that they were involved in diversion of foreign funds from the purpose for which they were received. He declined to give names of the organisation and nor would specifically say that these funds were used for fuelling anti-nuclear protests in Kudankulam.
Chidambaram said that the German national had come to India on a tourist visa despite a look-out notice against him for the activities he indulged in during his previous visits.
"A tourist who comes to India cannot associate with activities which are semi-political and protest activities. That is not for which a tourist visa is given," he said.
On the cases against four NGOs, he said the CBI has been asked to register cases against two while the other two have been left to Tamil Nadu police. "There is reason to believe funds were diverted from the purpose for which foreign funds were given. Prima facie there is evidence to register cases," he said.
To a question whether this was linked to anti-nuclear project protests in Kundankulam, he said,"I have not said a word about Kundankulam...investigation reveals that there appears to be diversion of funds. Therefore, under Foreign Contribution Act we have decided to register cases."
When pressed further on the issue, he said, "I can`t answer hypothetical question. Only after investigations details can be revealed. It was for media to speculate." Asked if the investigations against the four NGOs could be described as coincidence in the context of the anti-nuclear protests, he said "I don`t know."
Chidambaram said inspection of accounts of NGOs was a routine thing and initial inspection revealed violations by these four NGOs even as inspection of other NGOs is on.