It was Team Anna member Kiran Bedi's turn in the dock on Thursday. The former top cop had to defend herself against allegations that she fudged travel bills when invited by NGOs and other institutions for seminars or meetings.
A report in an English-language daily said Bedi used her gallantry medal to get 75 per cent discount on Air India tickets and then submitted inflated invoices to claim full fare from the organisers who had invited her.
With her political and civil society opponents asking her to "come clean", Bedi claimed her act was for a good cause as the money went to her NGO, India Vision Foundation.
"The organisers voluntarily pay me for business class tickets but I choose to travel economy class. While doing so, I ensure the savings remain with the NGO. There was no personal gain. On such occasions, I also informed the organisers and they have appreciated this," she told mediapersons on Thursday.
According to Bedi, she got a lot of money through her lectures and as royalty on her books, but donated all of it to NGOs.
She tweeted: "It's very interesting to see how saving for CAUSES by choosing to travel economy makes headlines in a newspaper!"
Swami Agnivesh, who earlier had a bitter parting with Team Anna, found Bedi's argument unconvincing.
"She has misused the benefits that gallantry awards provide. She tried to make money for her NGO. It is a serious criminal offence under section 273 of the Income Tax Act," he said, adding that Bedi should subject herself to a CBI probe and stop giving lectures against corruption. He also called for a probe into her NGO.
The Congress was also quick to say that the allegations revealed the true colours of Anna Hazare's associates.
"Bedi must first prove herself clean before she fights against corruption," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, while Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi took a dig at the Team Anna member by saying "those who live in glass houses should think before throwing stones at others".
Law minister Salman Khurshid chose to make a veiled attack as he said: "I don't find myself equipped to pronounce judgement on anybody as I feel judgement has been passed on many us by the (India Against Corruption) movement in which Kiran Bedi has a role. I don't think we should condemn anyone unheard."
However, the organisers who reimbursed Bedi seemed unfazed over the row.
A spokesperson from Novartis, a Mumbai-based company, said: "Ms Bedi is entitled to fare equivalent to business class travel and it is entirely up to her to decide how she wants to travel in the assigned amount. She submitted the invoices for the record and the amount was cleared. There is nothing to hide."
A member of the Socio-Legal Information Centre in Mumbai said: "She has never misappropriated any grant to her. We receive bills and clear payments that the guest is entitled to. I don't think it matters how she travelled if the money went for a good cause."
Source: India Today
A report in an English-language daily said Bedi used her gallantry medal to get 75 per cent discount on Air India tickets and then submitted inflated invoices to claim full fare from the organisers who had invited her.
With her political and civil society opponents asking her to "come clean", Bedi claimed her act was for a good cause as the money went to her NGO, India Vision Foundation.
"The organisers voluntarily pay me for business class tickets but I choose to travel economy class. While doing so, I ensure the savings remain with the NGO. There was no personal gain. On such occasions, I also informed the organisers and they have appreciated this," she told mediapersons on Thursday.
According to Bedi, she got a lot of money through her lectures and as royalty on her books, but donated all of it to NGOs.
She tweeted: "It's very interesting to see how saving for CAUSES by choosing to travel economy makes headlines in a newspaper!"
Swami Agnivesh, who earlier had a bitter parting with Team Anna, found Bedi's argument unconvincing.
"She has misused the benefits that gallantry awards provide. She tried to make money for her NGO. It is a serious criminal offence under section 273 of the Income Tax Act," he said, adding that Bedi should subject herself to a CBI probe and stop giving lectures against corruption. He also called for a probe into her NGO.
The Congress was also quick to say that the allegations revealed the true colours of Anna Hazare's associates.
"Bedi must first prove herself clean before she fights against corruption," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, while Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi took a dig at the Team Anna member by saying "those who live in glass houses should think before throwing stones at others".
Law minister Salman Khurshid chose to make a veiled attack as he said: "I don't find myself equipped to pronounce judgement on anybody as I feel judgement has been passed on many us by the (India Against Corruption) movement in which Kiran Bedi has a role. I don't think we should condemn anyone unheard."
However, the organisers who reimbursed Bedi seemed unfazed over the row.
A spokesperson from Novartis, a Mumbai-based company, said: "Ms Bedi is entitled to fare equivalent to business class travel and it is entirely up to her to decide how she wants to travel in the assigned amount. She submitted the invoices for the record and the amount was cleared. There is nothing to hide."
A member of the Socio-Legal Information Centre in Mumbai said: "She has never misappropriated any grant to her. We receive bills and clear payments that the guest is entitled to. I don't think it matters how she travelled if the money went for a good cause."
Source: India Today
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