The Gülenİst Terror Group (FETÖ) accused of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt and a string of other serious crimes, faces another investigation involving fraud. Police on Friday detained 21 suspects working for Gülenist nongovernmental organizations. Suspects are accused of diverting state funds allocated for NGOs to develop social projects to the terror cult.In the operations held in the southeastern cities of Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Siirt, Diyarbakır, the southern city of Hatay, the capital Ankara, the eastern city of Tunceli and western cities of Uşak and Aydın, police squads stormed a foundation and 16 associations with ties to FETÖ. The NGOs were funding the cult's illegal activities, police sources quoted by the media outlets said. Suspects were brought to the court on Friday amid tight security measures.Charges stem from Social Support Programs (SODES), state grants launched in 2008 in order to support entities, individuals developing projects for the economic and social growth of the underdeveloped southeastern Turkey. Gülen-linked NGOs received more than TL 5.7 million ($1.8 million) for 45 projects they presented to authorities and those NGOs diverted the funds to the accounts of Gülen-linked individuals. Şanlıurfa in southeastern Turkey where most Gülen-linked NGOs were based was among the biggest recipients of SODES grants of about TL 75 million that were earmarked for the city since the inception of the project.FETÖ was already being investigated for SODES grants in a separate judicial inquiry in the eastern city of Erzurum. In an August operation, police arrested nine people for funneling the grants to accounts of FETÖ members.Headed by U.S.-based former preacher Fethullah Gülen, the terror cult is implicated in a string of offenses, ranging from three coup attempts in 2013 and this year, money laundering, organizing sham trials through its infiltrators within judiciary and police, extortion and blackmail.Originally started out as a religious movement, the cult evolved into a powerful entity with a wealth it accumulated through its global network of schools and donations by followers. The terror cult is also known for its "himmet" scheme where followers are convinced into donating money for charity purposes and the businesses were forced to donate by blackmail.Authorities detained and arrested thousands of people linked to the terror cult since 2013 while Fethullah Gülen, the prime suspect in multiple criminal cases remains elusive. The crackdown on the terrorist group increased after the July 15 coup attempt and under a series of state of emergency decrees, Turkey cut off funds to the cult by seizing the assets of its members.In related news, Ahmet Altan, former editor-in-chief of a newspaper known as a mouthpiece for FETÖ, was remanded in custody hours after his release by a court that ordered the arrest of his younger brother Professor Mehmet Altan over FETÖ links. Two brothers were detained earlier this week but Ahmet Altan was released with judiciary control on Thursday. Upon an objection by the prosecutor's office, an Istanbul court ordered him to be remanded in custody. Altan, known for his supportive views of the terror cult, is charged with being a member of a terrorist group. He already faces a judicial investigation for Taraf's role in sham trials by Gülenists who imprisoned dozens of generals and dignitaries on trumped-up charges. Mehmet Altan was originally charged with supporting the coup attempt on July 15. Speaking one day before the putsch attempt in a TV show aired on Can Erzincan, a station linked to Gülenists, Mehmet Altan implied a coup was imminent and tried to "change public perception to be supportive of a possible coup," the court said in its ruling.