Guwahati: The Enforcement Directorate accused journalist Rana Ayyub against money laundering and filed complaints against her for fraud on Thursday.
The investigation agency seized Rs 1.77 crore from her in February in a previous case involving money laundering against journalist Rana Ayyub for allegedly misusing cash raised in the name of aid and charity through the website ketto.com.
According to an ED representative, Ayyub reportedly misappropriated the monies and transferred them to another account for personal expenses.
According to the allegations, Ayyub, a writer for a major media outlet defrauded individuals under the guise of Covid-19 by transferring money intended for charity to her own account.
According to the complaint, Ayyub opened an Rs 50 lakh Fixed Deposit (FD) that was transferred from his savings account via net banking after money was raised through a charitable effort.
The complaint against Ayyub was raised in August 2021 by one Vikas Sankrityayan, who alleged that “she cheated the general public in the name of charity.” He filed a case with the Ghaziabad police.
A FIR was filed against Ayyub at the Indirapuram Police Station on September 7, 2021 in response to his complaint. She was charged with violating Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 403, 406, 418, and 420, as well as provision 66D of the Information Technology Act.
Ayyub is accused of taking money from the public under the guise of a fundraiser for Covid and using it inappropriately. Moreover, the funding sources have come under scrutiny.
Ayyub, a vocal opponent of the government, disputed the allegations of financial irregularities and referred to the ED investigation as a “witch hunt” against her because of her opposition to the Indian government.