New Delhi, Sept 17: A city based advocate has filed a PIL seeking a probe into the alleged misuse of grants of crores of rupees by "fake" NGOs "in connivance with" Maneka Gandhi and some public servants during her tenure as social justice and empowerment minister. A division bench of Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice A K Sikri issued the notices to the Centre, CBI, CVC, CAG and government-funded Maulana Azad Education Foundation after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K K Sud termed the allegations as "mind-boggling".

The bench gave four weeks to the respondents to file their replies and fixed October 29 for further hearing. Petitioner advocate V M Singh accused Gandhi of "duping" the government by giving funds to "fake" NGOs started with her blessings "in conspiracy" with her then Officer on Special Duty Ajay Bhardwaj, Maulana Azad Education Foundation secretary Faruqui and other officers of her ministry.

"In fact Maneka Gandhi is a patron of many of these NGOs," he alleged in the petition. The petitioner sought direction to the CBI to probe into the alleged bungling and misuse of government funds and also inquire into the assets of those involved in the conspiracy.

He requested the court to monitor the investigations of the CBI to ensure that "the powerful political and bureaucratic nexus does not lead to miscarriage of justice".

Singh claimed that he had on November 29, 2001, filed a complaint with the then CVC N Vittal, who in turn asked CBI to look into the matter. "But even after expiry of over 21 months, CBI has not registered an fir in the matter," Singh submitted. Bureau Report