Amritsar — Funds of the Akali Dal are being scrutinized by the Central Bureau of Investigation to find out whether it contained any unauthorized foreign donations, it was authoritatively learnt here on Thursday.

Party funds amounting to about Rs 22 Lakh are lying ‘“‘inoperative’’ in certain banks in Amritsar. The CBI had also been holding inquiry into the foreign donations to the SGPC amounting to about Rs 10 Lakh since 1978.

This had “‘forced’’ the Akali Dal to launch a special drive to colleet funds to overcome the ‘‘acute financial crisis.” The party’s past and present legislators at a meeting here on Wednesday discussed the matter and decided to raise fresh funds on a “‘war footing.”

Party legislators have been asked to collect Rs 10,000 each and former legislators Rs 5000 each. Ad hoc committee mem bers, SGPC members and party activists will be told at a joint meeting at Anandpur Sahib on the occasion of Holla Mohalla on March 7 to raise similar funds, the party sources said.

The raising of funds is however, without any fixed ‘‘target’’ party sources added.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 15, 1985