UP Police EOW begins probe into Khurshid trust

The Uttar Pradesh Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is conducting an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the affairs of Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, run by Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise Khurshid, for the welfare of the disabled.

Suvrat Tripathi, director general of EOW, said the government had directed the EOW to conduct an inquiry into the activities of the trust, which organised camps in 17 districts in the year 2009-10. Four teams were conducting the inquiry, he said.

"It is in an advance stage and statements of district handicapped welfare officials are being recorded. On the basis of evidence collected, if needed, we could also question Salman Khurshid and his wife Louise Khurshid. There is no time frame to complete the inquiry, but we would like to finish it soon," Tripathi said.

There are allegations that the test reports on use of government grants, which were sent with the proposal for getting fresh grant for the next year, did not bear signatures of the officials actually posted in districts.

Tripathi said it was part of the inquiry to see if fake signatures had been used to seek fresh grant for the trust. The inquiry would verify who are the disabled people who benefited from the trust's activities.

"We will go and meet each and every beneficiary disabled person and record his statement," Tripathi added.

The matter came to light in May 2011, following a letter from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment asking the state government to "confirm" the test check reports sent "directly" to them by Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust for 17 districts for the year 2009-10. The trust had reportedly got a grant of Rs 71 lakh in 2009-10.

The trust was given grants-in-aid by the ministry under its Assistance to Disabled Persons Scheme for purchase and fitting of aids and appliances for disabled persons.

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