OM group syphoned Rs 296 Cr, reveals CID

Hyderabad: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) police investigating a cheating case registered against Operation Mercy India Foundation (OMIF) have found that the group has embezzled  Rs 296.6 crores that it had collected in the form of donations from national and international agencies by citing the need to better the lot of underprivileged children.

The CID, in the chargesheet filed recently in the VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Nampally, named 20 accused, including Joseph D’Souza, one of the founding members of the group, his associates and group concerns.

OMIF is managed by Operation Mobilisation India Group. One of its former employees, Albert Lael, had lodged a complaint based on which the police began an investigation. Police said the accused had resorted to misappropriation of about '9.7 crore by selling copies of the Bible that were meant for free distribution.

The accused had also embezzled tsunami relief funds; it had raised up to rs 5 crore towards relief and rehabilitation of victims but the money was diverted by creating fake bills and anonymous beneficiaries, according to the chargesheet.

A property owned by the group at Jubilee Hills was sold for around '9.5 crore but the records showed the figure at  rs 5.5 crore, the CID said.

The CID said it found that the trust funds had been diverted for purchasing assets in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi and Bengaluru.

The CID told the court that the Union home ministry had cancelled the certificate of registration and suspended the FCRA registration of Operation Mobilisation India, Secunderabad, one of the accused group organisations. The CID registered a case in September 2016 and has so far arrested 15 accused, while five more are absconding. The arrested accused are out on bail.