India strongly rebuts UN claiming judicial harassment of Rana Ayyub; calls it Unwarranted

India on Monday strongly rebutted United Nations' stand on journalist and columnist Rana Ayyub. India labelled United Nations' allegation of judicial harassment towards Ayyub, as 'baseless and unwarranted'. Highlighting that India upholds rule of law, country ded, 'But no one is above law'.

"We expect SRs to be objective & accurately informed. vancing a misleing narrative only tarnishes UN Geneva’s reputation," India furr said in tweet. Rana Ayyub is under lenses of Enforcement Directorate in an alleged charity fund scandal.  scandal allegedly pertains to three campaigns started by Ayyub - Funds for slum dwellers and farmers (April- May 2020), Relief work for Assam, Bihar and Maharashtra (June- Sept 2020), and Help for COVID-19 impacted people in India (May-June 2021) - from which journalist via crowdfunding portal 'Ketto.org' is said to have raised crores of Rupees. 

While matter is under investigation, United Nations earlier in day on its official Twitter handle uploed a tweet urging Indian authorities to investigate relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks online against journalist Rana Ayyub. 'And judicial harassment against her brought to an end at once," tweet re. 

ED's provisional attachment order details sequence of events

As per ED's provisional attachment order, Rana Ayyub raised a total of Rs 2.69 crore via Ketto. funds were raised for three campaigns - one for slum dwellers and farmers during April-May 2020, second for relief work for Assam, Bihar & Maharashtra during September 2020 and third for COVID-19 impacted people during May-June 2021.  funds were allegedly withdrawn from bank accounts of her sister (Rs 37 lakh), her far (Rs 1.6 crore) and her own account (Rs. 72 lakh). funds from her far's & sister's bank accounts were n transferred to her own.

ED order continues that she submitted documents of expense worth Rs 31 lakh. However, after verification, it emerged that actual expenses were to tune of Rs 17.6 lakh. ED n alleges that fake bills were found to have been prepared by Rana Ayyub in name of some entities to claim expenses on relief, including expenses allegedly me for personal travel by air.

ED's order n says, "Investigations conducted by Directorate of Enforcement make it abundantly clear that funds were raised in name of charity in a completely pre-planned and systematic manner and funds were not utilized completely for purpose of which funds were raised.”

It goes on to d that probe revealed that Rana Ayyub parked some of funds in a separate bank account inste of utilising funds and also created a Rs 50 lakh fixed deposit from crowdsourced funds and subsequently didn't use it for relief. Furrmore, she also deposited Rs 74.5 lakh in PM-Cares and CM Relief funds.

Finally, ED's attachment order concludes, “Accordingly, at stage of investigation, proceeds of crime are quantified as Rs.1,77,27,704/- and interest generated upon said FD of Rs. 50 Lakh."