Court orders FIR against Kiran Bedi

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday ordered registration of FIR against former IPS officer Kiran Bedi for allegedly cheating and misappropriating funds in collusion with foreign companies and other foundations.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Bansal directed the crime branch of Delhi Police to register the case against the key Team Anna member on a complaint by Delhi-based lawyer Devinder Singh Chauhan, who has alleged that she has "looted" various paramilitary forces and state police organisations in the name of imparting free computer training through 'Meri Police' under the banner of her trust 'India Vision Foundation'.

Chauhan in his complaint alleged that Bedi got a donation of more than Rs 50 lakh from Microsoft in the name of free computer training to the kids and families of the personnel of BSF, CISF, ITBP, CRPF and other state police organisations.

The complainant alleged that Bedi's trust was to impart free computer training to the kids and families of the cops.

"Instead of imparting free training or distributing free computers, Kiran Bedi in collusion with some unknown persons cheated Vedanta Foundation and made a plan to cheat the kids of cops and various paramilitary forces and civil polices and for the purpose Kiran Bedi planned to collect Rs 20,000 per month per training centre.

"For the purpose of siphoning money for herself, Kiran Bedi entered into a donation agreement with Vedanta according to which Rs 6,000 out of the total money of Rs 20,000 was to be paid by Vedanta to her two trusts (India Vision Foundation and Navjyoti Foundation) on the false ground that Kiran Bedi had arranged for the land and electricity for the said centre (training centre) for running their activities," the complainant said.

He alleged that the facility of land and electricity were arranged by the police organisation and Bedi had nothing to do with these arrangements.

Chauhan claimed that Bedi is getting huge money from abroad as donation to her two trusts and it needs to be probed by the Enforcement Directorate.

He alleged that Bedi is liable to be prosecuted for various offences including sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 477A (falsification of accounts) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.

Reacting to the court order, Bedi said it did not take her by susprise.

"I am informed an FIR is registered against me. For me now nothing is a surprise! It only strengthens my resolve to do more," she said.

Times of India