Bhubaneswar: Jharsuguda Police have issued a notice to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), seeking details of its financial transactions including information of foreign contributions.
The details have been sought in connection with a case filed against Rahul Gandhi in February for “threatening India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity” during a speech at the Congress headquarters earlier this year.
Rahul serves as trustee and executive committee member of the RGF, while his mother Sonia Gandhi is its chairperson.
According to the September 3 letter addressed to RGF’s director Sandeep Anand, the investigating officer in the case, Jharsuguda SDPO Umashankar Singh, has sought a year-wise break-up of the foreign contribution received by the foundation since its inception. “How much foreign contribution Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has received since its inception i.e. June 21, 1991. Provide the details year wise till date. Provide the details of the bank accounts in which the foreign contributions are deposited.”
It has also sought a copy of RGF’s licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and information about its auditors. “Provide the detailed name with alias and addresses (both Temp. and Permanent) with parentage, age, mobile number of the Authorized Signatory of those bank accounts.”
The foundation has been asked for a copy of RGF’s licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), information about its auditors, and clarifications on alleged donations from Zakir Naik in 2011 and the Chinese government in 2005-06. “If the allegations are true, justify the reasons with [the] purpose of receipt of donation with details of its expenditure,” it read.
The notice also sought an explanation on allegations of diversion of Prime Ministers’ Relief Fund to the Foundation during the UPA government.
The RGF has asked to respond until November 4, when its director has been directed to appear before the investigating officer. “Failure on your part to comply or attend the same will render you liable for legal action U/s 210 BNS in addition to the charges in the above-mentioned case,” the order added.
IG (Northern Range) Himansu Kumar Lal said that the information was relevant to the investigation. “We can give you details after receiving the information,” he told Indian Express.
On February 7, Rahul Gandhi was booked under Sections 152 (threatening India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity) and Section 197 (1) (d) (which prohibits making or publishing false or misleading information that threatens India’s security and unity) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on the basis of a complaint lodged by local BJP leader Rama Hari Pujhari, who accused him of making “deliberately anti-national statements which hurt each and every Indian individual.”