Washington: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is getting some more financial help from a controversial Indian-origin benefactor. Vinod Gupta, chief executive of the data company, InfoUSA Inc, is helping throw a high-dollar fundraiser Thursday night in lower Manhattan, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by the Associated Press.

A lawsuit by company shareholders accuses Gupta of excessively spending millions of dollars, including $900,000 worth of travel on the Clintons. InfoUSA has paid former President Bill Clinton, also scheduled to appear at the fundraiser, more than $2 million in consulting services.

Senator Clinton told AP Wednesday that she followed Senate rules when she accepted rides on Gupta's jet. The campaign said they had no other comment on Gupta's involvement in the fundraiser.

The New York Times first reported on its Web site yesterday that Gupta would serve as "vice chair" of the event, which means he has committed to raise $50,000 from ticket sales. The invitation says the hosts include Hollywood billionaire Ron Burkle and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, with entertainment by singer Christina Aguilera.