PIL in Delhi HC alleging corruption charges against Anna Hazare fighting for Lokpal

20.4.2011 (UNI) A Public Interest Litigation was filed today in the Delhi High Court seeking removal of social activist Anna Hazare from the panel of drafting committee of Lokpal Bill alleging that there are charges of corruption against him relating to the trust run by him.

The PIL states that Anna Hazare was held guilty by former Supreme Court Judge Justice P B Sawant who was heading a judicial inquiry against him, and ruled that Hazare had misappropriated Rs two lakhs from Hindi Swaraj Trust run by him.

The petition, filed by an NGO , National Anti-corruption Public Power, alleged that misappropriation of fund had occurred during the celebration of Hazare's birthday at his village Ralegaon-Siddhi in Maharashtra.

An inquiry was held by Justice Sawant who in his report submitted in 2005, held Hazare guilty of misappropriating Rs 2 lakh from the Hind Swaraj Trust which amounted to corruption, Justice Sawant had held.

'The inquiry was held by a commission headed by Justice Sawant which after detailed inquiry submitted its report in 2005 saying that Hazare was indeed guilty of corrupt practices (involving misadministration of one of his trusts),' the petition said.

The PIL alleged that according to the Commission's report, some of the workers of Hazare's Bhrastachar Virodhi Janandolan Trust were abusing the platform for anti social activities such as extortion of money and blackmailing.

The Commission to inquire against Hazare was set-up in 2003 on the plea of certain ministers against whom Hazare had opened a front to expose their misdeeds.

The Petitioner has filed certified documents to prove that there were corruption charges against Hazare and also one of the trusts (Hind Swaraj Trust) of Anna Hazare is un-registered but he has shown it to be as registered long back and has been receiving money illegally, claims the NGO president Hemant Baburao Patil.

The petition also claims Hazare was once prosecuted and sent to jail by a minister in a defamation case though he was released within one day.

However, no details of the case have been mentioned in the petition. UNI