New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday told a city court that they have written to the Income Tax authorities and Enforcement Directorate to audit the accounts of Anna Hazare’s voluntary organisation India Against Corruption (IAC), spearheading the anti-graft campaign in the country.
The police made this submission in a status report to Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Amit Bansal on its probe into a criminal case lodged against former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, a key member of Team Anna, allegedly for misappropriating funds donated to a trust run by her. The police said it had also sought details from the HRD Ministry viz-a-viz complaints against Navjyoti Community College, Jahangirpuri, part of Navjyoti India Foundation run by Bedi.
The police said they have also told Income Tax authorities to audit accounts of Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF), to which Kiran Bedi and other key members of Team Anna had allegedly diverted donations received by IAC to take illegal tax benefits.
“Letters have been written to the Income Tax Authorities to audit the accounts of India Against Corruption and Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF). “Letter has also been written to Enforcement Directorate to examine the funding of NGOs from abroad,” said the Crime Branch, in its two-page status report to ACMM Bansal.
An FIR was earlier registered against Bedi on a complaint by Delhi-based lawyer Devender Singh Chauhan, who had alleged that she had “looted” various paramilitary forces and police organisations in the name of imparting free computer training under her trust’s banner.
Chauhan, in his complaint, had alleged that Bedi received donations of more than Rs 50 lakh from Microsoft for imparting free computer training to kids and families of personnel of BSF, CISF, ITBP, CRPF and other state police organisations under the banner of her trust ‘India Vision Foundation’. “Letter has been written to Ministry of HRD for providing the details of action taken on the complaints received against Navjyoti Community College, Jahangirpuri, New Delhi,” the police told the court. “Letter has been written to Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, New Delhi to provide the details of Navjyoti Community College, Jahangirpuri and its recognition etc,” the police added. The police said investigation in the case is in progress and further probe will be carried out after receiving replies from these departments. The court has now listed the matter for further hearing on September 24.
The court had earlier directed the Crime Branch of Delhi police to register an FIR against Bedi on a complaint by Chauhan who had also alleged that she had misused her position by raising invoices for full fare air tickets and received money whereas such tickets had been bought by her only at 25 percent of the price as she is a recipient of President’s Medal.
He had also alleged that Bedi was liable to be prosecuted for various offences including IPC sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). (PTI)