LONDON: Britain's Charity Commission has launched a preliminary investigation into allegations that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, UK and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) here are linked to terrorist activities.

While general secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, UK, Kishore Rupralia was not available for comment despite repeated efforts, chief of Sewa International, an independent charity linked to HSS said that they had not received any letter from the Charity Commission till Saturday morning.

A spokesman of the Charity Commission said that the Commission had contacted the trustees of VHP, UK and HSS to provide more details of their operations.

Several London-based Muslim organisations had recently demanded banning VHP and HSS, the UK counterpart of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and probe into their accounts, alleging that they were responsible for attacks on Muslims in Gujarat.

Lord Adam Patel resigned as the patron of Sewa International, a charity linked to HSS, last week alleging that Sewa International was a front for military activity, "which incites racial hatred, is both outrageous and offending," a charge denied by the organisation.

C B Patel, patron of Sewa International, welcomed the probe saying "if anybody can prove that it is being used for terrorists activities, I am prepared to resign straightaway."

Denying the allegations of Lord Adam Patel, Shantibhai Mistry, Sewa International chairman, said on Saturday "I am somewhat surprised and dismayed at Lord Adams doubts and concerns about the work of Sewa International UK."

As regards the Charity Commission's decision, he said: "We have not received any letters until this morning."