Diversion of funds: CBI closes case against Maneka

While her son Varun Gandhi is having a tough time with the law,the Central Bureau of Investigation has given a clean chit to Maneka Gandhi on charges that she had diverted MPLAD funds to the Gandhi Rural Welfare Trust in Pilibhit in 2000 when she was the Union Minister for Social Welfare and Justice in the NDA regime. The investigating agency has recently filed a report recommending closure of the case,registered in August 2006.

“The allegations pertaining to grants extended to Gandhi Rural Welfare Trust for construction of a nursing college building at Pilibhit and purchase of ambulances could not be substantiated for criminal prosecution,” said a senior CBI official involved in the investigation of the case. However,during investigations,the CBI found that some local officials had deviated from departmental norms. “We have referred the matter to the UP Government for necessary action,” said a CBI officer.

Speaking to The Indian Express,Maneka Gandhi said: “There was nothing against me ever. The CBI has also said this twice earlier. But it was the Congress which kept reopening those investigations just to defame me.”

In 2006,after a preliminary inquiry,the CBI had registered two cases against Maneka and others. In 2000,Gandhi had reportedly written a letter to the Pilibhit District Magistrate asking him to allot funds for a nursing college proposed by the Gandhi Rural Welfare Trust headed by her sister Ambika Shukla. The trust had moved an application seeking Rs 2.18 crore to build a nursing college and to purchase ambulances. The trust was allegedly given Rs 35 lakh from Maneka’s MPLAD fund.