Dad of Manipuri child activist arrested in Delhi accused of using her as front

 The Delhi Police on Monday announced that Kanarjit Kangujam, father of Licypriya Kangujam, had been arrested on charges of forgery and cheating. Licypriya, who is nine, has often been in the news for taking up causes of climate and child rights.

The Manipur Police had put in a request with the Delhi Police for help to arrest Kanarjit, officials said. He was arrested in the national capital by a team of the Delhi Police Special Cell and handed over to the custody of Manipur Police, a senior police officer said, adding that a reward of Rs 1 lakh had been announced on information leading to his arrest.

The Times of India reported that Kanarjit had been arrested from his residence in Delhi's Safdarjung. The Times of India claimed Kanarjit also used the alias of Dr K.K. Singh.

The publication claimed Kanarjit had been declared an absconder by a court in Manipur in 2016 after he had been arrested and released on bail on charges of fraud, assault and criminal breach of trust.

"Singh had allegedly duped several self-help groups, hotels and individuals of more than Rs 19 lakh for a Global Youth Meet that he had organised in Imphal in 2014. Singh had also allegedly misled state and foreign dignitaries by describing himself as the director and acting chief at ‘UNESCO Youth Foundation’. The UN body had dismissed his claims, stating that they had no official relation with Kangujam’s foundation," The Times of India reported.

The latest complaint against him was filed by a Nepalese youth who alleged Kanarjit had defrauded him of Rs 30,000 in the name of a Europe youth exchange programme. The Times of India claimed, "several national and international students had been deceived of money amounting to around Rs 3 crore on the pretext of fees for various international youth exchange programs in 2018 and 2019 that were never organised".

Kanarjit has faced allegations of cheating in the past. The Print reported on Tuesday, "The International Youth Committee (IYC), of which K.K. Singh is chairman, is an organisation headquartered at a non-existent address in New Delhi, and found its clientele among young people from modest backgrounds looking to better their lives. The organisation was set up to hold seminars and conferences, and give young people a chance to participate." However, events were not held despite fees being collected from participants.

Kanarjit has also been accused of exploiting his young daughter for his own ambitions. The Print reported, "Licypriya’s social media accounts, where calls to raise money are emphatic, are not controlled by her directly, and require parental consent to operate, creating suspicion about K.K. Singh using her as a front." Interestingly, a campaign by Licypriya on Ketto to source oxygen concentrators for COVID-19 treatment has raised over Rs 75 lakh, so far.

This campaign too has been criticised for changes in its plans.

Sanjeev Yadav, DCP Special Cell at Delhi Police, told The Times of India, Kanarjit would be taken back to Manipur.