The federal agency filed its prosecution complaint against Ayyub before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on October 12.
Journalist Rana Ayyub. Pic/Twitter@RanaAyyub
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against journalist Rana Ayyub under the anti-money laundering law, alleging that she utilised publicly raised funds of over R2 crore for herself and contravened the foreign contribution law. The federal agency filed its prosecution complaint against Ayyub before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on October 12.
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“Rana Ayyub launched three fundraiser charity campaigns on ‘Ketto platform’ starting April 2020 and collected funds totalling R2,69,44,680,” the ED said in a statement on Thursday. The campaigns, it said, were meant to raise funds for slum dwellers and farmers; relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra and help Ayyub and her team to help those impacted by COVID-19 in India.
Probe found that the funds were received in the accounts of Ayyub’s father and sister, and subsequently transferred to her personal accounts, the agency said. “Ayyub utilised these funds to create a fixed deposits of Rs 50 lakh for herself and also transferred R50 lakh in a new bank account. Probe found that only about Rs 29 lakh was used for relief work.”
Also Read: Funds raised for Covid support used with sole aim of helping people in dire need: Rana Ayyub
“In order to claim more expenses towards relief work, fake bills were submitted by Ayyub and subsequently, bank balances in the accounts of Ayyub amounting to Rs 1,77,27,704 (including FD of Rs 50 Lakh) were attached under the PMLA vide a provisional attachment order dated 04.02.2022,” it said. It alleged Ayyub “illegally” raised Rs 2.69 crore and “cheated” the donors.
“Ayyub also received these funds from foreign countries without any approval or registration from the government which is required under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010,” it said. The ED case against her stems from a September 2021 FIR of Ghaziabad police related to alleged irregularities in donor funds. Ayyub had earlier rejected these allegations saying the money laundering charges levelled against her were “preposterous and wholly mala fide”.
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