From Mehul Choksi to Zakir Naik: An account of donations received by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Charitable Trust

The GVK Group is being investigated by ED and CBI for siphoning of fund of Rs. 700 crore of Mumbai Airport from year 2011-12.

Written by Newsroom Staff August 31, 2020 14:00

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New Delhi: Initial investigations show that Rajiv Gandhi Foundation & Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust received huge donations from people who are accused under the PMLA. It means that money laundered in various forms by individuals of questionable integrity found its way to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation & Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.

Some of these individuals are us under:

Mehul Choksi:

Mehul Choksi’s 41 properties

Rs 10 lakh were transferred from M/s Naviraj Estates Pvt. Ltd., a paper company of Gitanjali Group, beneficially owned by Mehul Choksi to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

M/s Naviraj Estates Pvt. Ltd. was one of the paper company at Gitanjali Group of companies which was used to route the proceeds of crime as part of money laundering activities. The company was beneficially owned, controlled and managed by Mr. Mehul Choksi by allotting 99.99% shares of the company to his son Rohan Choksi. Mehul Choksi was one of the Directors of the company.

The proceeds of crime of Rs. 47.78 crore and Rs. 24.45 lakh was transferred to this paper company having no business activity during FY 2013-14 and 2011-12 by M/s Gitanjali Infratech Pvt. Ltd. and Mehul Choksi respectively.
Out of these funds which represented the proceeds of crime, an amount of Rs. 10 lakh was given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation from the account at M/s Naviraj Estates Pvt. Ltd. vide Cheque no. 676400 on 29.08.2014.
It is pertinent to mention here that in this case two prosecution complaints have been filed and both Mehul Choksi and Gitanjali Infratech Pvt. Ltd. have been named as accused under the provisions of PMLA. Hon’ble Special Court has already taken the cognizance of the offence under PMLA.

Rana Kapoor:

Rana Kapoor

Rana Kapoor had diverted the fund of Rs. 2 crore of YES Bank to Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by purchasing a painting during 2010-12 in order to maintain cordial relations with the family of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, then Chairman of UPA and with intention to get Padma Bhushan Award from Government of India.
In addition, Rana Kapoor also made donation of Rs. 9,45,000 out of the fund of Yes Bank to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation on 14.09.2016.

Sources also suggest that Rana Kapoor had not only granted illegal favours to several persons/ entities by way of diverting the fund of YES Bank (which had now become NPA) but was also engaged in money laundering activities of the kickbacks received by him. Till date, kickback of Rs. 3557 crore have been identified out of which assets of Rs. 2320 crore have been attached under provisions of PMLA.

Jignesh Shah:

Jignesh Shah

Financial Technologies India Ltd. (FTIL), an accused under the PMLA, paid Rs. 50 lakh out of the fund which represented proceeds of crime to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust on 27.10.2011.
Investigation against M/s Financial Technologies India Ltd. (FTIL) & Ors. under the provisions of PMLA has revealed that the company along with its management headed by Shri Jignesh Shah generated proceeds of crime of Rs. 5600 crore in the National Spot Exchange Ltd. scam.
Sources inform that FTIL had received proceeds of crime of Rs. 1254 crore and the company along with its management were involved in the money laundering activities in contravention to provisions of Section 3 of PMLA.

Zakir Naik:

In January, the ministry of external affairs had made a formal request to Malaysia to deport Zakir Naik, wanted by India for allegedly inciting youngsters for terror activities through his hate speeches.

Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an accused under the PMLA, had donated Rs. 50 lakh on 08.07.2011 to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust from its account in DCB Bank (a/c no. 00120200000126) wherein proceeds of crime was deposited and later on laundered. It has also been noticed that Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust has donated an amount of Rs. 50 lakh on 12.07.2016 to IRF which was deposited in different bank account (a/c no. 00120200000976) of IRF in DCB Bank.

Sources reveal that under PMLA that proceeds of crime of Rs. 193.06 crore was generated and was laundered in contravention to provisions of the PMLA by Dr. Zakir Nark and entities controlled by him namely Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and M/s Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd. Naik received proceeds of crime of Rs. 49.20 crore during 2012-16 whereas IRF and Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd. had received proceeds of crime of Rs, 64.86 crore and Rs. 79 crore during period 2003-04 to 2016-17 respectively.

GVK Group:

Sourcesinform that GVK Airport Foundation has been consistently making donations to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation by providing 47 motorised vehicles totally valued during the period from 2010-11 to 2016-17.

The GVK Group is being investigated by ED and CBI for siphoning of fund of Rs. 700 crore of Mumbai Airport from year 2011-12. GVK airport foundation is getting substantial funds from the various entities of GVK group involved in siphoning of the fund of Airport and has in turn donated number of motorised vehicles to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, the same represents the part POC.