ED attaches Rs 1.77 Cr of journalist Rana Ayyub in money laundering probe
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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached Rs 1.77 crore of journalist Rana Ayyub, a vocal critic of BJP in connection with money laundering case and swindling funds collected for philanthropic use.
As per an IANS report, the action has been taken on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Indirapuram Police Station in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad against Ms. Ayyub.
An ED official said Ayyub had allegedly misused the funds collected in the name of help and charity through a website -- ketto.com and diverted them into other account for personal expenses.
ED sources said she cheated donors in a pre-planned manner.
"Funds totalling to Rs 2,69,44,680 was raised on Ketto by Rana Ayyub. These funds were transferred in the bank accounts of her sister/father. Out of this amount, Rs 72,01,786 was transferred in her own bank account; Rs 37,15,072 in her sister Iffat Shaikh's account and Rs 1,60,27,822 in her father Mohd Ayyub Waquif's bank account. All these funds from her sister's and father's account were subsequently transferred to her own account," read an ED document accessed by IANS.
It also mentioned Rana Ayyub submitted information/documents of expense to the tune of Rs 31,16,770. However, after verification of the claimed expenses, it surfaced that the actual expense was only of Rs 17,66,970.
"Fake bills were found to have been prepared by Rana Ayyub in the name of some entities to claim expenses on relief work. Expenses made for personal travel by air were claimed as expense for relief work," it said.
Investigations disclosed that instead of utilising the funds for the relief work, Ayyub parked some of the funds by opening a separate current bank account.
She is also alleged to have created a Fixed Deposit of Rs 50 Lakh from the funds raised on Ketto and subsequently did not utilise them for relief work.
Sources have further disclosed that Ms Ayyub has deposited a total of Rs 74.50 lakh in PM Cares fund and CM Relief Fund.
"Accordingly, at the stage of investigation, the proceeds of crime are quantified as Rs 1,77,27,704 and the interest generated upon the said FD of Rs 50 lakh," the order read.