Kalam says he did not authorise anybody to use his name

NEW DELHI: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday clarified that he has not permitted any trust or foundation to use his name after certain media reports pointed out said that some organisations which were created in the name of the former president had been indulging in various kind of "frauds".

"Kalam has not permitted any organisation or individual for creating any trust or foundation in his name. He is not associated with any such organisation in any capacity," an official spokesperson for Kalam said.

An organisation named after Kalam allegedly involved in defrauding youths of several crores of rupees by promising them jobs and scholarships has been uncovered in Bihar.

The "clandestine" operation of the organisation, Dr Kalam Education Foundation, came to the fore when a police team led by sub-divisional magistrate Enamul Haque yesterday raided the district office of the organisation which claimed to be running the government-sponsored 'Gramodaya Pariyojna' at Bagha in West Champaran district in Bihar, Haque said.

The raid was conducted after receiving complaints from local people that the organisation, prima facie, established to be a fake one, was collecting Rs 20,000 each from youths by promising to give them jobs and scholarships.

Seven persons, including Raghav Singh, son of the district project officer of 'Gramodaya Pariyojana', Sheonath Singh, son of a government clerk Abhimanyu, and another Bhagwan Kumar, were arrested during the operation, the SDM said.