Zeenews Bureau
Haridwar: Stung by the allegations of amassing huge “un-accounted wealth”, yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Thursday declared details of his business empire, pegging it at Rs 1,100 crore and promised maximum transparency of holdings in future as well.
Aide Acharya Balkrishna declared details of the assets on behalf of Baba Ramdev. “The capital involving the four trusts run by him totaled Rs 426.19 crore while the expenditure incurred on them amounted to Rs 751.02 crore ,” Balkrishna said addressing reporters at a press conference called at the fast venue.
“The total assets of Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust are Rs 164 crore and Rs 80 lakh. Divya Yog Mandir Trust’s total assets are Rs 249 crore 63 lakh. The total assets of Bharat Swabhiman trust are Rs 9 crore 97 lakh and that of Acharyakul Shiksha Sansthan trust are Rs 1 crore 79 lakh,” he said.
Balkrishna also declared the spending for each of the Baba Ramdev’s trust and pegged the total spending at Rs 751.02 crore.
"We believe in transparency in work and in financial matters. There is proper audit of all our firms and companies. As per rules, government renews our trusts after every two years only when our audits are clean. What has come and what has gone, who has given it and how was it spent, is all maintained," he said.
Balakrishna, however, did not give details of the companies associated with Ramdev, saying it can be obtained from Registrar of Companies under the RTI Act.
"We pay tax as per government norms. TDS is deducted. We follow all rules. Details of all out associate companies can be taken from Registrar of Companies and from the government under the RTI Act. Tax details and balance sheets of trusts have been put on the web site," he said.
As per reports, over 200 businesses from Aastha TV to food, herbal medicine parks are run by the trust.
Balkrishn said more than 100 crore people across the country and outside are directly or indirectly benefited from the social service rendered by Swami Ramdev in form of Ayurveda and yoga.
“The trust helps people during natural calamities,” he said.
Balkrishna, the right-hand man of Ramdev, said he is being framed in a “false passport controversy” and offered to hand out photo copies of his passport. Balkrishna is under scanner as it is alleged that he holds two passports.
Uttarakhand Intelligence Bureau has confirmed that Balkrishna may also have violated the Arms Act, reports say. The Prime Minister's office has ordered a probe in the case.
The Finance Ministry is carrying out a detailed income tax survey of trusts run by Baba Ramdev.
The move to make public assets followed questions raised by Digvijay Singh and other Congress leaders who wanted a thorough probe into the source of the wealth acquired by Ramdev.
Ever since the talks between Ramdev and government collapsed and the Ramlila police crackdown, Congress leader Digvijay Singh has been demanding that financial dealings of Ramdev be thoroughly probed.
Meanwhile, Baba Ramdev clarified that he is not ending his fast - now in its sixth day. Doctors have advised him to end his fast in view of his deteriorating health, but for now the Yoga guru is adamant on continuing the fast till the government agrees to his demand to bring back black money and formulate tough anti-graft laws.
First Published: Thursday, June 09, 2011, 22:59