Ramdev under ED scanner

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating Baba Ramdev’s foreign assets and investments by seeking details about them from all available official sources, including the Reserve Bank of India.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating Baba Ramdev’s foreign assets and investments by seeking details about them from all available official sources, including the Reserve Bank of India.

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The probe is taking place under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema).

An island ‘Little Cumbrae’ was gifted to Baba Ramdev by a couple who are said to be his devotees in Scotland. According to sources, the cost of the island is around £2 million. Baba Ramdev has renamed it ‘Peace Island’.

The island and Baba’s yoga camps abroad have also come under the ED scanner. The agency is seeking information about trusts run by Baba and his aides in India and abroad. According to sources, five trusts are under the scanner.

Apart from these trusts, the ED will seek details about all companies being run by Baba Ramdev and his associates. The ED will also look into details of fund transfer in these companies and their foreign dealings.

According to ED sources, huge expenditure takes place when Baba organises yoga camps in foreign destinations. The ED is seeking details about these expenditures.

If any violation of Fema is found out, the ED can formally register a case in the matter at a later stage.

Apart from the ED, the CBI has also started probe on allegations of flouting the Passport Act against Acharya Balakrishna, a close aide of Baba Ramdev.

According to government sources, the CBI is conducting a preliminary enquiry (PE) into the passport issue. If the CBI finds any violation of passport act, the probe agency might go for registration of a regular case against Balakrishna.