Kiran Bedi should come clean, says Digvijay Singh
October 20th, 2011 - 4:49 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Congress leader Digvijay Singh Thursday asked Kiran Bedi, a close associate of Anna Hazare, to come clean on allegations that she inflated travel expenses when invited by NGOs and other institutions for seminars or meetings.
“This is a very serious allegation and Kiran Bedi should come clean,” Digvijay Singh told journalists following a report in the Indian Express that she sometimes charged business class tickets but travelled economy class.
The daily claimed to be in possession of bills, invoices and copies of cheques which show that Bedi, who is entitled to a rebate on Air India tickets as a gallantry award winner, pays discounted fares but charges her host institutions the full fare.
Said Law Minister Salman Khurshid: “I have read the news but I think she (Kiran Bedi) herself will have something to say. I don’t want to condemn or hurt anybody.
“I cannot take a judgement on anybody as quickly as I feel as the judgement is pronounced on many of us by the movement (India Against Corruption) in which Kiran Bedi as a significant role,” Khurshid added.
Bedi said in her defence that there was no personal gain.
“The organisations voluntarily pay me for business class tickets but I duly inform them and save money for travels which are for good causes but cannot provide remuneration… there is no personal gain.”
Stating that it was “saving for a cause”, Bedi added: “I make a choice to save money so that it can be used for a good cause by not travelling in business class.”
- Kiran Bedi to return excess money to organisers - Oct 24, 2011
- It was for the cause: Bedi on inflated reimbursements - Oct 20, 2011
- Bedi should stop giving lectures on corruption: Agnivesh - Oct 20, 2011
- Aide quits Bedi's NGO over travel row - Oct 25, 2011
- Giving fake bills is wrong: Kejriwal - Oct 20, 2011
- Kejriwal siphoned funds for private trust: Agnivesh - Oct 22, 2011
- Hazare warns of another fast, government says no reason (Roundup) - Nov 01, 2011
- Bedi to return excess airfare to Indore NGO - Oct 30, 2011
- Delhi court orders Kiran Bedi to be booked for cheating - Nov 26, 2011
- Delhi Police files FIR against Kiran Bedi - Nov 27, 2011
- Team Anna core group stays, warns Congress on Lokpal bill - Oct 29, 2011
- Probe against Bedi still on, police tell court - Jan 07, 2012
- Don't create rift between government, civil society: Khurshid - Oct 25, 2011
- Anna to fast again if bill not passed this session, says Kejriwal - Oct 22, 2011
- Congress speaks in different voices on Uttarakhand Lokayukta - Nov 02, 2011
Tags: air india, allegation, anna hazare, award winner, business class, cheques, congress leader, digvijay singh, economy class, gallantry, host institutions, indian express, invoices, judgement, kiran bedi, law minister, personal gain, remuneration, salman, travel expenses