Netizens have reacted in shock after it emerged that journalist Rana Ayyub donated in excess of Rs. 74 lakh collected through crowdfunding to help the poor to the PM Cares Fund and CM Relief Fund. Ayyub has routinely criticised the PM Cares Fund in the past. This was after the Enforcement Directorate attached Rs 1.77 crore belonging to Ayyub in connection with a case of money laundering.
The ED had reportedly launched a probe after an FIR was filed with the Ghaziabad Police alleging
A report by Indian Express said that Ayub deposited Rs 74.50 lakh in the PM Cares fund and CM Relief Fund accusing Ayyub of illegally acquiring money from the public in the name of charity.
The ED said that Ayyub raised the funds through various campaigns ‘in the name of charity in a pre-planned and systematic manner and the funds were not utilised completely.’
The ED said that funds totalling Rs 2.69 crores were raised on Ketto by Rana Ayyub, who withdrew them in the bank accounts of her sister and father. “Out of this amount, Rs 72,01,786 was withdrawn in her own bank account, Rs 37,15,072 was withdrawn in her sister Iffat Shaikh’s account and Rs 1,60,27,822 was withdrawn in her father Mohd Ayyub Waquif’s bank account. All these funds from her sister’s and father’s account were subsequently transferred in her own account,” Indian Express reported quoting the ED.
The ED also found that Ayyub submitted documents of expense to the tune of Rs. 31.17 lakh of which documents for Rs 14 lakh were deemed to be fake.
“After verification of the claimed expenses, it surfaced that the actual expenses to the tune of Rs 17,66,970,” the agency stated. “Fake bills were found to have been prepared by Ms. Rana Ayyub in the name of some entities to claim expenses on relief work. Expenses made for personal travel by air were claimed as expense for relief work,” it said.
Ayyub has not reacted to these allegations. But the news has evoked strong reactions from netizens, who took to Twitter register their outrage.
Rana Ayyub deposited ₹74.50 lakh in PM Cares Fund after investigating agency found out about her Family Cares Scheme ???? pic.twitter.com/EtkF2uj2lW
— BALA (@erbmjha) February 11, 2022
In Aug 2020, @RanaAyyub questioned PM Cares and demanded enquiry on it.
In Nov 2021, Rana Ayyub claims she donated ₹40 Lakh to PM Cares.
Muslims journalists are being forced to pay price for questioning fascist PM????
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) February 11, 2022
Rana Ayyub’s right hand was questioning PM Care as Scam where else her left hand was withdrawing donation money for own use. Very Smart!
#RanaAyyub#RanaAyyubChorHai pic.twitter.com/EuhQMvP9Oo
— PRAVIN R. BHOJ (@Po_intBlank) February 11, 2022
Surprised to see the reports that Rana Ayyub has donated Rs30,00,000 of crowd sourced money to Dear Leader’s PM Cares Fund? Is this true?
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) February 10, 2022
I thought it was a right-wing propaganda but even NDTV/IndianExpress now reporting that Rana Ayyub donated Rs. 74 lakh to PMCares fund/CMRelief fund. A fund that she criticised in the past. And that too money collected from people for charity purpose. Why?
— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) February 11, 2022
