The Ghaziabad Police in Uttar Pradesh has registered an FIR against Washington Post journalist Rana Ayyub after online crowdfunding platform Ketto sent an email to those who donated money to campaigns started by her.
Ketto has been informed by the Indian law enforcement agencies that the funds that were collected was “not utilised for the purpose for which they were raised” and as of now, Ayyub is incommunicado.
The FIR was based on a complaint by a ‘Hindu IT Cell’ co-founder, who accused Ayyub of illegally acquiring public money in the name of charity, and the complainant Vikas Sankrityayan said that Ketto had sent a letter to those who had donated to Ayyub’s campaigns.
It is also alleged that Ayyub “receiving foreign money without any kind of approval certificate/registration from the government” which is a violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
Abhay Kumar, Circle Officer, Indirapuram, said, “An FIR has been filed in Indirapuram police station for alleged misuse of donation funds. We will have to examine evidence since it involves another organisation.”
Ketto’s email, which was sent on August 27, said, “Ketto has been informed by the Indian law enforcement agencies that the funds (partly of fully) raised in the said campaigns were not utilised for the purpose for which they were raised and the funds (partly) are still in the accounts of the respective campaigns.”
According to Ketto, Ayyub had started three campaigns — for slum dwellers and farmers, relief work for Assam, Bihar, and Maharashtra, and help to those impacted by Covid-19 in India.
Ketto’s email added, “When enquired by Ketto, the campaigner has intimated that out of the total funds received (about 1.90 crores INR net) and 1.09 lakhs USD (net) for these campaigns (total around Rs 2.69 crore approx), only a portion has been spent (about 1.25 crores), and certain amounts have been or will be paid as taxes (about 90 lakhs). The balance funds, after these debits, are still retained by the campaigner.”
The FIR against Rana Ayyub has been registered under IPC sections 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 418 (cheating with the knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), section 66D of the IT Act and section 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
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