Bedi as a gallantry award winner gets 75 percent rebate on Air India Economy Class tickets. As per a English newspaper’s report, the former top cop pays discount fares but charges her hosts the full fare and at times also claimed Business Class fare while flying Economy.
The report further says that Bedi has been carrying on with the practice from as far back as 2006 when she was a serving IPS officer - her last such travel with inflated invoice was as recent as September 29 this year. All the reimbursement cheques were credited in the account of Bedi’s NGO, India Vision Foundation.
The explanation form Bedi camp: Her chartered accountant has been quoted as saying that what was being seen as a “mismatch” was actually a “saving” as Bedi was spending less than what she was reimbursed for and the rest of the money came in handy for travels for causes for which she got no remuneration.
As an example, the newspaper has furnished the details for her recent trip to Hyderabad and Chennai.
This year on September 29 this year, Bedi flew Delhi-Hyderabad on Air India (AI 560), then Hyderabad-Chennai (AI 546), in Economy class. The next day, she took a flight back to Delhi (AI 539).
She paid a total fare of Rs 17,134, but the invoice was generated for Rs 73,117 (payment is pending). While Bedi flew form Delhi to Hyderabad, onward to Chennai and then back to Delhi, the fares being claimed are for Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi (Economy) and Delhi-Chennai-Delhi (Business class).
March 6, 2009: Flew Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi (IC 688, IC 605) on discounted tickets. Fare: Rs 12,483. Bill submitted for/amount received: Rs 32,495.
Kiran Bedi will be explaining her position at a press conference later today
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