Maharashtra, January 9:
The Maharashtra Police have cracked down on an illegal fundraising operation in Beed district, booking four individuals for allegedly defrauding citizens of over ₹4 crore. The accused claimed the funds were being raised to provide humanitarian aid to Palestine but used an unregistered trust to collect the massive sum.
The Crackdown in Patrud Village
The investigation, led by the local police in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Unit, was triggered by specific intelligence regarding suspicious financial flows. A raid was conducted in Patrud village, located in the Majalgaon area of Beed, where the group had been operating their fundraising campaign.
According to Majalgaon rural police, the group solicited donations under the pretext of supporting victims of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. However, investigators discovered critical legal violations:
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Unregistered Trust: The funds were funneled into a bank account belonging to a trust that was not registered with the Charity Commissioner.
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Fraudulent Pretext: Authorities stated that collecting public money through an unregistered entity constitutes a case of cheating and fraud.
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Terror Funding Probe: While the current charges focus on cheating, the police are actively investigating if the group has any links to proscribed organizations or if any portion of the ₹4 crore was diverted toward terror financing.
Out of the four individuals named in the FIR, two have been arrested so far. The Majalgaon rural police have registered the case under relevant sections of the law pertaining to: Cheating and Fraud, Criminal Breach of Trust and Violations of Charitable Trust Regulations.
Authorities have urged the public to verify the credentials of any organization before making donations, especially for international causes, to ensure the money reaches legitimate aid channels.
