14,000-page chargesheet filed against Al Halimi Foundation

• Accused of collecting ₹10.25 crore from 40,000 donors

• Al Halimi Foundation operates under Pakistan-based Dawat-e-Islami organisation

Solapur (Maharashtra) – The Solapur Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has filed a massive 14,000-page chargesheet in court in connection with the Al Halimi Foundation case in Barshi. The Foundation has been accused of collecting approximately ₹10.25 crore over four years from various districts of Maharashtra without registering with the Charity Commissioner. The investigation revealed that, during this period, the organisation received donations from an average of 10,000 donors every year, amounting to a total of 40,000 to 45,000 donors.

The Al Halimi Foundation in Barshi operates under Pakistan-based Dawat-e-Islami. The organisation’s affairs were managed by its President Ansar Rafiq Pathan (Barshi), Vice-President Arif Rashid Bagwan (Mohol) and Secretary Aslam Latif Shaikh (Barshi). Among them, Vice-President Arif Bagwan and the Foundation’s accountant have been arrested, while the President and Secretary are absconding. The Foundation’s activities were confined to the districts of Solapur, Beed, Dharashiv and Pune. It operated six to seven madarasas in these areas. The investigation states that the funds collected were used to provide religious education to hundreds of students. The investigation has also uncovered another significant aspect of the case. According to the ATS, several non-governmental organisations associated with Pakistan-based Dawat-e-Islami are operating in various States across India, including several districts of Maharashtra. The chargesheet alleges that some of these organisations opened bank accounts using forged registration numbers and used the same registration numbers for Income Tax and PAN card purposes. It also states that 70% to 80% of the funds collected in the name of social work were shown as having been spent on salaries.

The ATS is continuing its investigation to determine who the regular donors were, how exactly the collected funds were utilised, whether any other persons were involved in the case, and for what purpose the Foundation’s office-bearers were in contact with individuals in Pakistan.

Background of Dawat-e-Islami

Dawat-e-Islami was founded in 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan, by Maulana Ilyas Qadri. The international Sunni Islamic organisation operates in more than 172 countries and has its headquarters in Karachi. It runs the Madani Channel television network, madarasas and various educational institutions. The chargesheet states that the investigation has revealed links between the office-bearers of the Al Halimi Foundation in Barshi and this organisation.