New Delhi: India has taken objection to United Nation (UN)’s condemnation of Indian agencies over alleged witch hunt against journalist Rana Ayyub and has called out invocation of ‘judicial harassment’ charge.
Setting the records straight in Rana Ayyub charity fraud case, India said the allegations of so-called harassment are baseless & unwarranted.
India’s Permanent Mission to UN said further in clear terms, “India upholds the rule of law but it’s also equally clear that no one is above the law”.
Hours ago, the UN tweeted in support of journalist Rana Ayyub and said “misogynist & sectarian attacks against her must be probed by Indian Authorities and the judicial harassment be brought to an end.”
Allegations of so-called judicial harassment are baseless & unwarranted. India upholds the rule of law, but is equally clear that no one is above the law.
We expect SRs to be objective & accurately informed. Advancing a misleading narrative only tarnishes @UNGeneva’s reputation https://t.co/3OyHq4HncD— India at UN, Geneva (@IndiaUNGeneva) February 21, 2022
Rana Ayyub found herself in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) net after the agency attached her assets worth Rs 1.77 crore raised under a Charity programme but diverted for personal user & other purposes.
She ran a social media campaign and collected funds via crowd funding for helping out people during the Covid-19 pandemic but didn’t deliver on the same. Rather, this was diverted into Fixed Deposits & into accounts of her family members.
However, the journalist denied allegations of money laundering. She said that she had raised a total of Rs 2.69 crore via Ketto through 3 campaigns and also provided bills & voices for relief work undertaken by her to the concerned department.
Her clarification over ‘diversion of funds’ didn’t cut ice with the investigating officials. Finding ‘enough instances’ of fraud, the agency seized her assets.
