Ahmedabad: A complaint has been filed against controversial foreign funded NGO operator Teesta Setalvad for misuse of union Human Resource Development(HRD) ministry fund by her. A complaint has been filed by former Teesta aide Raees Khan Pathan in city police Crime Branch.

Police has booked Teesta under sections 120 B, 153B, 153A, 406, 409 and 420 of IPC along with Prevention of Corruption Act sections 13(1)(d)(i),13(2).

According to Raees Khan, Teesta Setalvad (Director and Trustee of Sabrang Trust) and her husband Javed Anand (Trustee Sabrang Trust) both live in Nirant bungalows on Juhu Tara road in Mumbai West. They did criminal conspiracy in collusion with officials and employees of union Human Resource Development(HRD) ministry through which Setalvads illegally received Rs 1.40 crore from HRD ministry in the name of Khoj project and misused it by spending it for self.

Raees Khan has also alleged that Teesta misused her post as CABE member by getting fund for her own Sabrang Trust’ in which she is Director and Trustee.

Citing a report of committee appointed by HRD ministry, Khan has alleged that literature produced by Teesta Setalvad(under said project) is such that its spread can create tension between castes and communities.

Raees Khan in his complaint said that he was working as field officer of Teesta’s NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace. Setalvads had received fund for riot victims through her trust Citizen for Justice and Peace and Sabrang trust.

Setalvads(Teesta and her husband) had also received Rs 1.40 crore fund from union Ministry of Human Resource Development during 2010-13 for Khoj project under the ‘scheme for assistance for experimental and innovative programme for education at the elementary stage including nonformal education’ linked to Department of School Education and The Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan. Raees Khan says he had in this connection written a letter on 9-5-2014 to HRD ministry, in response to which the ministry had given direction to form a probe committee. The probe report had revealed that Setalvads and HRD ministry officials/employees were involved in the act of illegal allocation of fund.

Back in 2010-13 period, HRD Ministry had asked for NCERT’s opinion to include Khoj project in the scheme. NCERT had clearly given negative opinion, but HRD ministry went further ahead and formed FIT (Field Investigation Team) and appointed two members – Seema Rajput from HRD ministry and 2. MS Nimbalkar from Maharshtra Primary Education Council to submit a report.

The report was in favor of fund allocation to Khoj Project of Sabrang Trust. However the report shows Manisha Salgaonkar(Gender Coordinator, MPSP)’s name instead of MS Nimbalkar. The report had only one member Seema Rajput’s signature. Based on this report, a recommendation was made to Grand-in-Aid committee for Rs 1.40 crore allocation to Khoj project.

Raees Khan in his complaint further stated, though Setalvad was a member of Central Advisory Board for Education, she remained present before the Grand-in-Aid Committee(GAIC) and gave presentation for approval of her own project. CABE is MHRD department board but Setalvad misused her position and managed to get approval for Rs 1.40 crore fund.

In the meeting of Grand-in-Aid Committee(GAIC), one member had raised questions against allocation and led attention to the fact that disproportionate demand was being made under the scheme. But concerned officials still went ahead to make allocation of huge grant from public money.

Raees Khan’s complaint reads: Most of Sabrang Trust’s Khoj Project fund has been utilized for personal use. HRD ministry didn’t seek expenditure report. The ministry didn’t review the details of expenditure to check misuse of public fund.

A committee formed by MHRD in response to application clearly stated in its report that literature created by Teesta Setalvad was such that its spread could create tension between different castes and communities, Raees Khan said in his complaint seeking actions investigation and action against Teesta Setalvad, her husband and unknown officials/employees of HRD ministry.

DeshGujarat