Rana Ayyub case: ED information chargesheet, says journalist’s sole intention was to cheat public

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet towards journalist and columnist Rana Ayyub on cash laundering prices earlier than a delegated court docket in Ghaziabad. 

As per particulars, ED had initiated a cash laundering investigation on the idea of an FIR registered in September final 12 months by the Indirapuram Police Station in Ghaziabad, underneath numerous sections of IPC 1860, Data Expertise Modification Act 2008, and Black Cash Act towards Ayyub. She was accused of illegally buying funds from most people within the identify of charity by launching fundraiser campaigns on a web-based crowdfunding platform known as Ketto. It was additionally alleged that as Ayyub is a journalist by career, she obtained international contributions, which she acquired with none registration underneath the International Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. 

As per ED, Ayyub launched three fundraiser campaigns on the Ketto platform in April 2020, and picked up funds to the tune of Rs 2,69,44,680. She collected the funds for the next social causes:  

 • Assist in elevating funds for slum dwellers and farmers 

• Aid work for Assam, Bihar, and Maharashtra 

• Assist Rana Ayyub and her workforce to assist these impacted by Covid-19 in India 

ED sleuths mentioned that Ayyub illegally raised Rs 2.69 crore by launching three on-line campaigns within the identify of charity by dishonest most people donors. These funds weren’t used for the supposed objective however as a substitute used for the creation of property for herself. ED mentioned that Ayyub had launched the aforesaid campaigns with the only intention to cheat the overall. 

The investigation by ED revealed that the funds raised on the net platforms had been obtained within the accounts of her father and sister and subsequently transferred to her private accounts. Ayyub utilised these funds to create mounted deposits of Rs 50 lakh for herself and likewise transferred Rs 50 Lakh to a brand new checking account. ED investigation revealed that solely Rs. 29 lakh was used for reduction work.  

As a way to declare extra bills for reduction work, pretend payments had been submitted by Ayyub. Subsequently, financial institution balances to the tune of Rs 1,77,27,704 (together with FD of Rs. 50 Lakh) within the accounts of Ayyub had been connected u/ s 5(1) of PMLA vide a Provisional Attachment Order dated 04.02.2022.
“These funds weren’t used for the supposed objective, as a substitute used for creation of property for herself. Rana Ayyub has tried to mission these funds as untainted and thus has laundered the funds obtained from most people. Rana Ayyub additionally obtained these funds from international nations with none approval or registration from the federal government which is required underneath International Contribution Regulation Act,” the monetary probe company additional mentioned. 

The officers claimed that Ayyub’s sole intention was to cheat most people and bought proceeds of crime in type of mounted deposits and balances in financial institution accounts projecting them as untainted.

Ayyub, in an announcement earlier on these allegations, had mentioned: “It’s abundantly clear that no a part of the reduction marketing campaign fund stays unaccounted for, and there’s completely no scope for any distant allegation of misuse of the funds for private bills.”
“Such allegations are preposterous, wholly mala fide and belied by the file, and are a deliberate misreading of my financial institution statements,” the assertion learn.
Sources in ED have additionally mentioned that a part of the cash obtained as donations was allegedly used for private bills, together with a trip journey.
ED sources claimed that in her questioning, Ayyub was unable to clarify why she had not utilised the donations and sure expenditures.