New Delhi:
Weeks after the controversy over her inflated travel bills, there is fresh trouble for former top cop and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi. A Delhi court today asked for an FIR against the former IPS officer over allegations of cheating and misappropriation of funds.
The court order comes after a Delhi-based lawyer Devendra Singh Chauhan alleged that Ms Bedi, through her NGO Navjyoti and India Vision foundation, tried to cheat paramilitary forces and state police and colluded with foreign companies.
"There are several charges that she promised free education to family members of paramilitary forces, and instead charges from them," said Mr Chauhan, the complainant.
The Delhi Police had asked for more time to probe the matter, but the court ordered an FIR within 24 hours.
Kiran Bedi responded with this tweet, "For me now nothing is a surprise! It only strengthens my resolve to do more."
Mr Chauhan, in his eight-page complaint, also accused Ms Bedi of laundering money and charging students enrolled in her community college with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), though the course is free. But the university says Ms Bedi has not broken any of its rules.
"It is one of the best community colleges. There is no case of them overcharging students," said C K Ghosh, Director, IGNOU, People's university.
Anna Hazare's core team has often been in controversies and often they have defended themselves saying that this is all part of an orchestrated campaign against them. Now it will be up to the police to check the veracity of the charges and see if they have a case and go back to court.