Kejriwal’s allegations baseless, says Louise Khurshid

October 13, 2012 | National News | Written by

New Delhi, Oct 13: Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid’s wife Louise Khurshid on Saturday dismissed the allegations that the trust run by her siphoned off lakhs of rupees meant for physically challenged people, saying the document is not a CAG report, but an excerpt from initial internal inspection report.

Louise said the charges levelled against her trust are false and baseless.

“There is no CAG report. They are lying. I am surprised that Kejriwal being a former Income Tax Officer is not aware of the CAG report. The document is not a CAG report, but an excerpt from initial internal inspection report,” said Louise.

“I have confirmed it from CAG office and the ministry,” she added.

Louise said that there is no ground for making allegations against the trust.

“We haven’t forged signatures on the documents. We have not done any fraud. The CAG has not even questioned us. The CAG has told me there is no report against the trust. We are ready to give accounts of expenses. We are ready for full examination of all allegations,” she said.

Louise said that she has filed a defamation case over the allegations made against the thrust.

Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal has demanded Law Minister Khurshid’s resignation and Louise Khurshid’s arrest over allegations made against the trust owned by the couple.

Hindi news channel ‘Aaj Tak’ had earlier alleged that an NGO run by Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise Khurshid had misappropriated funds meant for the differently-abled by forging signatures.

The Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, headed by Salman Khurshid, has come under the scanner after a TV channel exposed a scam to the tune of Rs 71 lakh.

According to Aaj Tak report, the Union Ministry for Social Welfare and Empowerment had granted Rs 71.50 lakh to the trust for distributing tricycles and hearing aids to the disabled in 17 districts of U.P.

Salman Khurshid is the president of the Trust, while his wife Louise Khurshid is the project director.

As per the rules, the trust should have informed the district magistrate; the district social welfare officers prepare and send a list of beneficiaries from districts and the money is disbursed at the camps organized for this purpose, in the presence of district officials.

But reports state that the Trust distributed the equipment under the forged signatures of district welfare officers and the camps were never held.

The Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust is registered at Khurshid’s residence in the national capital (4, Gulmohar Avenue, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi) and the minister’s wife – Louise Khurshid, who happens to be a former MLA – is its chief functionary officer.

The trust is registered as an NGO and has been operating in many states and has been receiving substantial grants from several important ministries of the government of India.

The project relates to providing aids to physically challenged people in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Khurshid’s hometown Farrukhabad. (ANI)