Centre forms panel to probe ‘irregularities’ in Gandhi family trusts

The Union Home Ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate investigations into the alleged violation of income tax and foreign donation rules by the three trusts related to the Gandhi family – the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, the ministry’s spokesperson tweeted in the morning.

While the special director of Enforcement Directorate will head the committee, the probe will focus on violation of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Income Tax and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act by the trusts run by the Gandhi family, the tweet said.

Last month, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had asked the Congress to explain the donation of ₹90 lakh to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation by the Chinese Embassy.

The BJP has also accused the Congress government under Manmohan Singh of donating money from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi heads the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, the board of which includes Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Congress leaders Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram.