Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

Lakhs of rupees being donated by over 4,000 donors, meant for the welfare of slum children being looked after by Theatre Age, were also “funding” the lavish lifestyle of NGO director Zulfiqar Khan.

At his three-storeyed house in Bhaskar Colony, Sector 25, where he used to take minor children on weekends for extra studies during late night hours, the room on the top floor, where he allegedly used to physically abuse the children, was fully equipped with luxuries such as LEDs, DVD players, laptops, beds and a mini-bar.

On condition of anonymity, one of the students of the NGO said Zulfiqar had installed two LEDs, of which one was for watching TV channels while the other was attached to a DVD player to watch porn movies. Three laptops were also placed in the room to download videos.

“Every weekend, a lavish party was thrown by Zulfiqar in which his favourite branded whisky, cigarettes and food from restaurants was ordered, which were shared by students close to him,” said the student.

“Sir tumhe paise denge, kamreh par chal” (sir will give you money, visit his room), students close to Zulfiqar used to tell other students enrolled with the NGO. Whenever students required money for fee, stationery or any other financial help, they were asked to meet Zulfiqar at his Sector 25 house.

Students were cajoled to visit the room, where the entry was allowed only to his associates or students who were asked to stay for the night. Students were asked to come at 9.30 pm and used to leave the place at 4 am accompanied by Zulfiqar.

As a reward, the children who were sexually exploited, were given expensive laptops, cell phones, branded clothes and money, the student said. Some of them got a monthly pocket money of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, depending on their requirement.

Had a monthly income of over Rs 4 lakh

Zulfiqar, who used to wear simple clothes and pretended to maintain a simple lifestyle, reportedly had a monthly income of over Rs 4 lakh, including money he got from 4,000 donors.

Modus operandi

His close associates used to identify children in slums in Sector 25, who wanted to become actors. They then counselled them to join Theatre Age to fulfil their dream.

How the donations were spent

Weekly raw material of food was sent for children by a religious organisation, which he use to divert to his place in Sector 48 and his relative at Dadu Majra. Donations in kind such as TVs, furniture and branded clothes were also used by his relatives rather than students of the NGO.