ED Charge-sheets Journalist Rana Ayyub In (PMLA) Case
(Judicial Quest News Network)
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against journalist Rana Ayuubi in connection with a case alleging that she illegally acquired funds in the name of charity.
ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered on 07.09.2021 by the Indirapuram Police Station, Ghaziabad, U.P, under various sections of IPC 1860, Information Technology Amendment Act 2008 and Black Money Act against Rana Ayyub alleging that she illegally acquired funds from general public in the name of charity by launching fundraiser campaigns on an online crowd funding platform-‘Ketto’. It was also alleged that Rana Ayyub is a journalist by profession and received foreign contribution without registration under FCRA.
It was alleged that Ms. Ayyub, a journalist by profession, received overseas donations without registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation Act).
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), its probe revealed that Ms. Ayyub had launched three fundraiser campaigns on Ketto platform from April, 2020 and collected funds totalling to over. Rs. 2.69 crore. The campaigns were for help raising funds for slum dwellers and farmers, relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra, and assistance to those impacted by COVID-19 in the Country.
The agency has further revealed the funds raised on the online platforms were received in the accounts of her father and sister and subsequently transferred to her personal accounts. Ms. Rana Ayyub utilized these funds to create fixed deposits of Rs. 50 lakhs for herself and also transferred Rs. 50 Lakhs in a new bank account. ED investigation revealed that only approx. Rs. 29 lakhs was used for relief work. In order to claim more expenses towards relief work, fake bills were submitted by Ms Rana Ayyub. Subsequently, bank balances in the accounts of Ms. Rana Ayyub amounting to Rs.1,77,27,704/- (including FD of Rs. 50 Lakh) were attached u/ s 5(1) of PMLA vide a Provisional Attachment Order dated 04.02.2022.
Only about 29 Lakh was used for relief work, said the ED, alleging that in order to claim more expenses towards relief work, fake bills were submitted by Ms. Ayyub.
Bank balances in the account amounting to over Rs.1.77 crore- including the fixed-deposit- were attached by the ED ON February 4.
Investigation by ED further revealed that Ms. Rana Ayyub illegally raised Rs. 2.69 Crore by launching three online campaigns in the name of charity by cheating the general public donors.
These funds were not used for the intended purpose, instead used for creation of assets for her.
Ms Rana Ayyub has tried to project these funds as untainted and thus has laundered the funds received from general public. Ms Rana Ayyub also received these funds from foreign countries without any approval or registration from the government which is required under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010.
ED Investigation has established that Ms. Rana Ayyub had launched the aforesaid campaigns with the sole intention to cheat the general public and acquired Proceeds of Crime in form of FD and balances in bank accounts projecting them as untainted.
Ayyub had rejected these allegations saying the money laundering charges levelled against her were “preposterous and wholly mala-fide”
