Journalist Rana Ayyub rejected allegations on Friday that she "misused" donor funds raised in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying money-laundering charges levelled against her are "preposterous and wholly mala fide".

Issuing a statement on social media platforms, Ayyub said she has "demonstrably shown" to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income-Tax department authorities that "no part of the relief campaign money has been used for any other purpose" or for her personal expenses. The ED, earlier this month, attached over Rs 1.77 crore worth of bank deposits of Ayyub in connection with a money-laundering investigation against the scribe.