Thiruvananthapuram : More evidences emerge in the Punarjini scam involving Opposition Leader VD Satheesan and Vigilance team is headed to Paravur to corroborate their findings. The vigilance will take testimonies from more people Sleuths ae also set to unravel conspiracy involved in the alleged embezzlement.
It has been now established that funds raised abroad in the name of Punarjini scheme was in clear violation of Foreign Contribution(Regulation) Act - FCRA. According to sources familiar with the investigation, there are more people involved in the irregularities involved.
FCRA violation
Meanwhile, Vigilance has intensified its probe against Satheesan in the case The Union Ministry for External Affairs clarifying it did not lend permission for VD Satheesan to raise overseas funds. The confirmation came over Kathikudam Action Council Chariman Jaisal Panikulangara’s RTI inquiry to Union Ministry if VD Satheesan had received sanction to raise disaster relief funds abroad between 2017 - 2020. The reply was “no”.
Vigilance recorded statements of Jaisal and P Raju a couple of days back. It’s trip to Paravur, the epicenter of fraud, comes following this.
Mystery woman
Meanwhile, the woman from Birmingham who arrived in Paravur with cheques for Punarjani project remains unidentified. People wonder if this is the same woman who arranged luncheon meetings for VD Satheesan abroad.
As for Satheesan, he is evasive about who the mystery woman is although he loosely said she was from Thiruvananthapuram that helped collect funds from Birmingham and that her husband was a doctor in UK. However, Satheesan has not revealed her name, just yet. And, while it is claimed, she had helped with disbursing funds in Paravur, nobody remembers having seen such a woman.
