Probing FIR against Rahul Gandhi, Odisha police seek financial details of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

The notice is in connection with a case filed against Rahul Gandhi on February 7 for threatening India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity”. The case, based on a complaint by a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary, pertains to a speech that Gandhi made during inauguration of the Congress’s new headquarters in New Delhi in January.

Significantly, Rahul’s a trustee/executive committee member of the RGF while his mother Sonia is chairperson.

In the letter, the foundation was asked to provide details of the bank where the foreign contributions were made and their authorized signatories – including name, addresses and age, parents’ and mobile numbers.

In addition, investigators have sought a copy of RGF’s licence under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and information about its auditors.

The Jharsuguda Police’s letter also referred to allegations that the foundation had received donations from the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in 2011, and that it had received a substantial fund from the Chinese government.

“If the allegations are true, justify the reasons with [the] purpose of receipt of donation with details of its expenditure,” read the letter.

It also alleged that funds were diverted from the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Ministers’ Relief Fund to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation during the United Progressive Alliance and asked it to “justify the purpose”.

The documents and information were “necessary and desirable” for investigating Gandhi, the police said, giving the RGF until November 4 to respond and asking its director of finance to appear in person to answer questions in connection with the case.

“Failure on your part to comply or attend the same will render you liable for legal action U/s 210 BNS in addition to the charges in the above-mentioned case,” the order said.

Speaking to the Indian Express, IG (Northern Range) Himansu Kumar Lal said that the information was relevant to the investigation. “We can give you details after receiving the information,” Lal said.

On February 7, Rahul Gandhi was booked under sections 152 (threatening India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity) and Section 197 (1) (d) (which prohibits making or publishing false or misleading information that threatens India’s security and unity) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint lodged by a local BJP leader.

In his speech at the Congress headquarters, Gandhi accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party of “capturing every single institution” in the country, claiming that his party was not only fighting the BJP “but the Indian state itself”.

In his complaint on behalf of the BJP, the RSS and other similar right-wing outfits, a BJP functionary identified as Rama Hari Pujhari accused Gandhi of “deliberately giving anti-national statements which hurt each and every Indian individual”.

The complainant alleged that Gandhi crossed the limit of freedom of speech with his statement that his party was not only fighting the BJP “but the Indian state itself”.

The Indian Express has reached out to RGF for a response.