The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Sprouts has unearthed a multi-crore scam in the Maharastriya Yadav Charity Trust that took place due to money deals between the trustees and the Charity Commissioner.
The trust formed on February 17, 1946 has 25 branches and over 29,000 members. This organisation works towards the welfare of the Yadav community. The corruption of over Rs. 100 crore has taken place in the Maharastriya Yadav Charity Trust, the SIT has learnt.
The elections of the Trust are conducted irregularly and a few corrupt office bearers get elected in successive years. These office bearers do not bring the documents related to properties worth crores of rupees purchased illegally, before the members.
The Trust has a hall at Dadar in Central Mumbai. However the rent received by letting out the hall for different functions, is not accounted for and a larger quantum of rent is pocketed by a few corrupt members, former Trustee Sandeeka Waze told the Sprouts.
During the initial days of prolonged lockdown, not only people but even birds were not in sight on the road and the schools were closed down. However the trust claimed to have distributed school note books to 6.50 lakh students. The trust also claimed to have given scholarships worth Rs 2.50 lakh to the students during this period. Besides Rs 1.27 lakh were shown as spent towards refreshment and the money was pocketed by members with bogus bills.
“Several complaints about the corruption worth crores of rupees in the Maharastriya Yadav Charity Trust have been made to the Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra. However no cognizance of these complaints was taken and the information was not provided even to the RTI queries.”
Sandeeka Waze, Former Trustee
“Those who are spreading rumors of malpractice about our Maharashtrian Yadav Charity Trust are completely wrong. All allegations are baseless. Our trust is doing well.”
Ashok Baburao Date, President, Maharastriya Yadav Charity Trust