PFI reels from the raids as serious charges are staring up at the leadership
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New Delhi: The NIA focused on the alleged unlawful activities of PFI whereas the ED was probing the outfit's financial sources, reported India Today based on details of these cases by ED and NIA the portal said it has accessed.
The findings by both agencies prompted the home ministry to initiate nationwide action against PFI leaders and its members, according to the report.
The ED investigation reportedly revealed that PFI and RFI (Rehab Foundation of India) as having received huge amount of money from " questionable sources". RFI is a charitable organisation with donations received from across the country and doing humanitarian work. Donations to it have been exempted from income tax under Income Tax Act provisions.
The agency reportedly attached 23 bank accounts of PFI having a collective balance of Rs 59,12,051 and 10 accounts of Rehab Foundation of India (RFI) with a collective balance of 9,50,030. ED attached a total of Rs 68 lakh.
The report by India Today further said that ED revealed PFI indulged in the laundering of proceeds of crime associating with other accused persons. Thus the agency alleges that it mobilized money in the form of cash by falsely projecting it as donations from sympathizers.
As per the report, PFI mobilized funds via its networks in Gulf countries and 'proceeds of crime' were sent to India through illegal channels like foreign remittances into the bank accounts of sympathizers, office bearers, members and their relatives in India.
Subsequently, the funds got transferred to accounts of PFI, RIF and other entities and individuals, projecting them as untainted money in the banks accounts of PFI and RFI, according to the report.
The ED reportedly found that PFI formed regional executive committees in UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia to raise funds – which is a common feature in those countries where most political parties of India have units under different name and style.
Given the abruptness of the orchestrated action, there is more to the raids and subsequent arrests of its top leadership than meets the eye.