Denies allegations over air fare issue
Team Anna slipped into deeper crisis on Thursday with allegations levelled against key member Kiran Bedi for charging her hosts full fare on air tickets while availing herself of discounts.
Although Ms. Bedi, who runs an NGO, and the Team's leading light Arvind Kejriwal asserted here on Thursday that there was “no corruption involved,” questions are being raised about the irregularity.
A section of the media reported on Thursday that she had been charging NGOs and institutions that invite her for seminars and meetings inflated travel expenses while utilising her entitlement as a gallantry award winner for discount fares and, at times, claiming Business class fares while travelling Economy.
Maintaining that the event organisers/corporates who invited her were in the know of the arrangement, Ms. Bedi told journalists that there was “no personal gain” for her. She said she saved the difference in fare for her NGO, India Vision Foundation, to be utilised for causes.
“Business class travel is part of the invitation/entitlement from the event organisers/corporates I'm asked to speak at. Travelling economy is a choice, despite entitlement, to ensure that savings remain with the NGO and used for those events which cannot pay travel. I am downgrading [as opposed to upgrading in air travel] myself to save for a cause. There is no personal gain whatsoever,” Ms. Bedi said.
According to her, the corporates/event organisers who invited her wrote out a cheque covering Business class fare in the name of her foundation and left it to the NGO to make travel arrangements for her.
Asked if she did not believe this would hurt the ‘India Against Corruption' movement, she countered, “What is the corruption involved? Many people avail free airline tickets in the name of a cause. Is that corruption? Have I siphoned off any funds? Sorry to disappoint detractors trying real hard to find a smoking gun, even more so when we are in the anti-corruption movement.”
Questioning the timing of the disclosure, Mr. Kejriwal said this was an attempt to derail the anti-corruption movement. “There is no corruption involved. Even so, if any party feels aggrieved, it can file an FIR.” A bureaucrat, however, opined that such action against a serving officer would be “viewed seriously.”.
Keywords: Team Anna, travel irregularities, Kiran Bedi
The media report that Kiran Bedi indulged in corruption by charging business class for her travels on discounted air fares is nothing but mud slinging. As in per diem rates, her sponsors agreed on certain amount she could spend to cover her travels and living expenses without regard to amount actually spent by her. I would not mind even if she pocketed the difference in amounts for her personal use and I would definitely commend as it benefited her NGO. With corruption so widespread, it is normal to see readers divided on the issue. "The world is a dangerous place not because of people who do evil, but because of the beneficiaries of such evil who want status quo and the good people who do nothing about it." Those who accuse Kiran Bedi of wrong doing are out there to defeat a nationalist movement that stands to question the ruling elite for its misdeeds. For paltry personal benefits today, these elements are jeopardizing future of their offspring.
All I am looking for ow is Ms Bedi begin interviewed by Karan Thapar o Devil's Advocate.
Kiran bedi acted like a sales staff in a pvt. co where staff travel by 2nd class and charge first class fare. She should not have done even if it meant downgrading her. It is totally wrong.
Its just heartbreaking to see people questioning the image of kiran>bedi...lets just say she is guilty of siphoning off couple of thousand rupees...but for god's sake people its just few thousand rupees(My college peon siphons more money than that but still we dont create a outcry like this!!!)...after all what she has done for the country even if she siphons crores of rupees for herself,i actually wudnt mind..and that is all to say even if we assume she is guilty
MS Kiran Bedi has done a corrupt Act by claiming more money than she spent. A Govt officer indulging in such a practice is corrupt even if she/he distributes the money to his bossess or co workers. It is ridiculous that such person without any ideals is part of anti corruption movement. It is more ridiculous when she explains she collected more money for her NGO.How can a person who understands what is corruption be even part of a committee that is framing laws on corruption. As per Ms Bedi, one can take extra money but distrubute it amongst friends/relatives and own firms ,it will not be corruption. I am an Army man- If I had done the same thing I would have been court martilled within a week itself. Public should not accept the so called civil society members at their face value
Feel many are making emotional comments here. Ms Bedi is completely wrong in what she was doing. Agree with Prabodh C. Bolur, if she wanted money for NGO, she should have asked her hosts to cut down on expenses and pay the difference as donations to her NGO. The best she should have done is to charge fees to her hosts that could then be moved to NGO as donation. Looks like the travel agents were also colluding with her NGO in what looks like false accounting. This is not good advertisement for someone who claims to be a saint while portraying a picture of fighting corruption. Is she trying to be a Robin Hood here? That's not within law. Trying to be above law is undemocratic and against the values that these people are trying to preach.
People should be shamed of what they are doing to the honest lady's image. They should realize that this is a sensitive time and the corrupts are leaving no stone unturned to spoil every key member's image in Team Anna. An organizer walks in with a certain amount of cheque and invites Ms Kiran Bedi for a seminar and then simply walks out without insisting upon any kind of bills that he would reimburse. It would have been so embarrassing for the organizer had Ms Kiran Bedi walked up-to him and said "Thanks for the seminar, here's your refund"
There has been a concerted effort to tarnish the anna movement and this cannot be anything more than this.
Why is this such a huge deal in a grand scheme of things?Appreciate all the good work she has done so far. If you guys think that we can find people with 0 mistakes to lead us in the creation of lokpal bill, you are not in the real world.
100 good things one does - never gets appreciated fully
1 bad thing - Oh yeah everyone chips in to go an extra mile..
Give her a break and move on..
Those who wants to accummulate some money for their NGO by mean of travelling in economy class is not a corruption. It has been done by way of heart to do some thing for the society & needy person. This is not a corruption.
Every body is corrupt. Be it anna or kiran. accept you are corrupt and try to change. no use denying...
Let us accept that Kiran Bedi did inflate her bills. Let us go further and say that this was done for motives other than what she is furnishing now. So, she is not the most honest of people. I will not trot out the argument that people who live in glass houses should not cast stones. Guilty as charged, Milord! My idol has clay feet! There are more issues we could rake up which would prove the same thing.
The issue here is that of the timing. At the correct time, every skeleton in the cupboards of the Anna team has started tumbling out. We normally see this in rape cases where the defence team convinces us that the rape victim was a woman of "loose morals".
If we waited for a clean broom to sweep out the dirt, we could wait for eternity. Should we turn away the sweepers because their clothes are soiled?
What kind of crisis? They are not misusing the funds. What they can do after getting such huge support from all over nation? They can easily collect crore of Rupees easily. They can transfer the mass support to some political force also, they can get lot from that which cannot compare by the amount i discussion, but issue were made in such manner. However public is of the opinion that they scarifies for public cause and if using some fund on spend on them what is wrong after all they were providing full time for the public cause. If the case like that you can blame any one including Gandhi ji also. From where he getting money to run day to day expenses of him self and his ashram? Is someone raise question of that kind? From where Agnivesh ji getting his day to day expenses? Is he doing any work by which he get monthly income? What will be source of his Income? If you do associate with an organisation you can spend a justified amount from that organisation how its misuse?
Let us not jump to hasty conclusions without knowing the full facts and circumstances. Many software and consumer service industries bill/charge a contracted sum per man(Woman)hour to a client for the services rendered by their technicians but no one expect them to pay the same rate to their technicians. Similarly if the foundation which deputes Ms Kiran Bedi is reimbursed towards expenses at an agreed rates and the same is not directly paid to Ms Bedi, this can not be construed as a fraud on the foundation or much less as corruption.
When she is bold enough to face the Press and made everything public, we should appreciate her sincerity rather than trying to crucify her. If the savings are diverted for a noble cause, what is wrong in it? These orchestral outbursts ventilated through Press by Corrupt politicians (who misuse their official position to gain personal benefits from the Government treasury)will not succeed in crushing the Anna movement. People know to judge- who is right.
If the alegations were made by your own team member, then investigations has to be conducted by an independent non-partisan agency / member to disprove the alegations. One cannot be judge for his own wrong doings. If Govt. Servants want to be tried by Strong Jan Lokpal, What about you so called Social Servants (Civil Society) Are you people are holy cows?.If you people are not ready to receive alegations, then how you people expect a Govt. corrupt servant want to be probed your Strong jan lokpal.
George Varghese, John - Dr Bedi's IVF has a proven track record in its fields like prison reform, women's upliftment etc. It has an international outreach. Which "party activity" is comparable to that? How many political leaders are R Magsaysay winners? Answers your question?
I do not understand how some people are falling for such a dirty trick orchestrated by the Govt to save face in the battle for survival. The law is - innocent till proven guilty. Can these people who have started this malicious slander campaign to destroy the people's movement against corruption prove Dr Bedi benefited by the inflated bills she presented to the organizers?
Please do not justify everything. What Ms. Bedi committed is an example of utmost corrupt practice, whatever the reason is. There is a very straight forward way to get money for her charity or NGO. I am sure that any of the corporate or companies deny donation to her NGO (all these so called NGOs should be probed first, these are the most corrupt organisations in India!). She is a best example of a corrupt person preaching to make a clean India!
Sometime back, the airlines had floated 'Frequent Flyer Scheme' whereby, say for every 10 single trip one free ticket was offered. Many senior officers of PSU banks/PSU undertakings were frequent flyers ON OFFICIAL TRIPS and they got free tickets. On the question as to the treatment of free ticket (consequent to official trip), it was decided by the Governemnt that the concerned officers may avail the same for their personal use ! ( as no loss was caused to the Governemnt/PSU banks/undertakings )
Why questioning Kiran bedi is so offensive for so many people? These people mock any
one, everyone. Question anyone for why, what and how? When it comes to them, congress
is throwing mud. Ahaaaaa.
Did she inform organizers of what she is doing? Provide audit records to show how much
your NGO gained and what it is used for? What is your overhead percentage?
Come clean then no questions asked. Post the records to twitter, Facebook just like you
use them for campaigning.
Accepted Ms Bedi but the fair means are as important as the cause. Unfortunately for you, our politicians believe washing their sins by proving others wrong.
Team Anna is facing the music! They will soon realizes its not easy being a political worker/ NGO. Allegations can be leveled for anything and everything. The life of a politician is very tough. Even if you are upright, people can always find faults on you.
It is outrightly wrong. reimbursement means getting back the actual expenditure incurred. How can one submit the inflated bill and justify the excess amount goes to the NGO? You can not justify this. If the same thing is done by a politician you make that an issue. If Kiran Bedi does you talk about her past records. What a kind of hypocrisy. Clean yourself first
Travel bills are travel bills and not travel bills plus donation ! Never file false travel bills and pocket the balance or pass it on to an NGO, however deserving the cause may be. How is this accounted for in the NGO's and sponsor's accounts book ? Can any body ( Government servant/ corporate employee) file a false bill and pass on the balance to a deserving NGO ? Government servant will be severely disciplined, corporate employee fired ! Let there be truth in all actions.Please don't justify wrong doings. This will send very wrong signals to the youth of our country.
So the "dirty tricks department" of the Government is now working overtime to find out how many skeletons they can find in the Anna Hazare team. This is nothing new - time after time, government after government has done this to discredit movements that could be their undoing. So if you can't fight corruption (because your cabinet is corrupt to the core) - go after those who spearhead a movement against corruption. That way, you can deflect the anger of the masses. I sincerely hope this does not work , this time. Enough is enough!
Ms Bedi,s saving technique is flawed.SUCH acts were not expected from her.Sh Sukh ram also said when currency notes were recoverd from his house that these were for Party funds.She should have sought donations from event oranisers for her NGO,which woud have benefitted the both.There is dichotomy in what she says and what she practices.Is this not morally wrong?Again, she said ANNA IS INDIA.NO INDVIDUAL can be equal to india.All corrupt people will say they are saving for thier childern as she is saving for her NGO.IF she has an iota of moral courage she should publicly appologise and should not repeat in future.
As a former DGP and a senior most administrator Ms Bedi must be aware that the Daily allowance, Terminal charges/Incidental charges, allowed under Travel Allowance, are fixed amounts, paid/claimed irrespective of actual expenses. But claims regarding fares and all other charges incurred during journeys should be restricted only to the actuals within the limits of entitlement/eligibility. Any claim of these charges over and above the actual expenditure is nothing but a misconduct and malpractice attracting action against the individual. Having exposed herself in the lime light and media glare raising a high pitched voice, Ms. Bedi should not get angry on her critics. The excess claim made and retained by Ms. Bedi or her NGO is not fair. Any NGO meant for a noble cause should collect/earn funds only through fair means.
I admire The hindu, for giving bias less news atleast. She downgraded her travel class to save money for the movement and good for the nation. She is now more respected in my eyes. You will never hear Manmohan singh travelling in economy class to save money for the good of the nation... She is better than prime minister of the nation..
Of course there is no corruption involved in this whole scene. A person like KIRAN BEDI is hard to find in INDIA, she has always been fighting for the Right thing. She is having a great foresight as well as thinking, and she has done something for her NGO, for her people, for her country and there is nothing bad in it. One who can RESIGN from her job just because of injustice, cannot do injustice with others and cannot get involved in any kind of corruption activities. And she has rightly said that "she downgraded herself..." .I am a big follower of her and i am really proud of her. She has always retained her simplicity.
Nothing wrong in it.Kiranji is a typical indian lady.always decreasing expenses and save money.In public life money is necessary for many expenses.it is good to cutdown expenses and save money.
Mrs. Kiran Bedi's argument that the difference in the fares that she collects goes to her NGO seems to be convincing.But she must know that there are hundreds of ways to collect money for her NGO by openly stating her purpose. This sort of indirect collection could be better avoided.
I wonder what if the same act was done by Arundhati Roy or Medha Patkar.
By now the Saffron Brigade would have gone hammer and tongs after them
and a case in Delhi High court would have been filed by now.
Nevertheless, the act by Ms Bedi is cheap, shameful and immoral. I mean
how on earth can presenting wrong, inflated bills be justified no matter
for what noble cause the money is used. This is a clear corrupt
practice.
Morally Kiran Bedi is right but legally she isn't. Paradoxically, Anna Hazare is legally right in fighting against corruption and morally wrong in having a soft corner for Hindutva forces -- but the media will demonize anyone who speaks against Anna Hazare because some of them too have soft corner for the Hindutva forces.
Shameful and petty! Robbing Peter to pay Paul can never be justified. With that we can go to the extent of glorifying even thefts! It's surprising to see the group members (lokpal) justifying this as an act of great rectitude and magnanimity and not having the guts to call a spade a spade. Put your house in order please. Naturally, such news will keep coming as these are "leaders" in public glare fighting to clean government, judiciary and executive; and never themselves! No reason to wail "media is targetting us".
Kiran Bedi can say what she wants, but this act is considered 'corrupt' in any books. For an IPS officer who had led us all to believe that she's above what prevails in our society, this is a huge let down. If she has any moral scruples left in her, she should step aside, admit that her act can be viewed as 'corrupt', disclose the amount that has been transferred to her NGO (including tax statements to prove this) and promise never to repeat this. That is what one would expect of a person like her. What she's doing now is nothing different from any other corrupt individual or a politician. Sad.
Ms. Kiran Bedi's act and the arrogant way of defending it is all disgusting. I think she should read a lot on truthfulness.Clearly, there is lot of difference between entitlement and actuals. Whatever the end cause one should not conceal and claim more. She is doing great injustice to Mahatma Gandhi by pretending she is following the path shown by father of India. No doubt that Mahatma would show mercy on her.
This is crude nit-picking by her detractors.
I myself, while in service, has signed orders dismissing several Government Officers for the very same misconduct i.e. submitting inflated travelling allowance bills. Such officers were also convicted and sent to jail by CBI Special Courts under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. How could Kiran Bedi, an admittedly corrupt individual, be a part of the Lokpal Drafting Committee ? And she has the temerity to aspire to become the Lokpal to decide the fate of even the judges of the Supreme Court ! Such is the company Anna keeps
Indian Express is in possession of records proving that Kiran Bedi had been cheating the Government by preferring highly inflated Travelling Allowance Bills, even while she was in the Indian Police Service. This is highly deplorable, and is a despicable act of corruption on the part of one who held a very senior position in Government Service, and who is so violently and aggressively campaigning for probity in public life. And she has the temerity to claim that she is above Parliament ! This is a clear case of criminal misconduct entailing prosecution. She deserves no leniency. Having been in Government Service for so long, that too in Police Service, she is well aware that she can claim only the fare she actually paid, irrespective of her entitlement. The gallantry award stated to have been given to her should be taken back forthwith ! Will someone take the trouble of filing a Public Interest Litigation petition in the Supreme Court to force the Government to take urgent action.
It is said 'the higher a monkey climbs, the more you get to see of his bottom'.It is difficult to understand why Ms Bedi's NGO had to resort to such cheap fund collection tactics. One hears of some lower level employees who produce false railway tickets, fuel bills or medical bills to claim their entittlements.Now Ms Bedi stands in the same line.
Bedi charged the organizers just what they were prepared to pay and what they would have paid anyone else. Would it amount to corruption? If Bedi got concessional fare that is her personal privilege earned by hard work and courage. Even if she used the money for her personal expenses it may not really amount to corruption. Whom did she cheat? Who had lost any money?
Why don't we take up the issue of the bribes NGOs pay in Delhi to get their files processed. Why don't we take up the issue of NGO projects not being able to budget for the security of their employees as insurance or provident funds because you have no clause for that? How about the fact that your banks do not give loans to NGO employees even though by definition they cater to the needs of society that remain unaddressed by governments? So lay off that angle or probably we will have to ask every NGO to work on the corruption angle.
Billing more than usage! What is wrong? Everything!! It is corruption, cheating! Exactly the excuse the bribe taker can give - what is the problem no body has lost any money and the money taken is for savings. If in service , it is a very serious offence.
In recent days there has been attempt to show that Team Anna members are corrupt and hence indirectly weaken the movement...but we as people should not lose focus... just because someone is wrong does not mean that they do not have the right to demand what is right...in this case even if some quarters of the media go out of their way to question personal integrity of the members that should not take away anything from the movement itself...the anti-corruption movement is above personalities...
I believe Kiran Bedi is upright and honest officer. She has great credibility. She is role model for many youths. It is very sad that she made mistake in claiming travel expenses. She is very well educated person with very good perception of what is right and what is wrong. I cannot believe she can make such mistake.
It appears that Kiran Bedi’s point of view she has right to downgrade (while traveling) herself and save money for her NGO. From professional accountants point of view this is misappropriation of fund / fraud. From corrupt police officers point of view it is their right to pocket money by any means. Kiran Bedi’s perception of saving for her NGO is flawed. I believed she is upright and honest officer. Ms Kiran Bedi could have negotiated with her host requesting them to spend less on her travel and hotel accommodation and amount saved could be added to the donation to her NGO which perhaps attract rebate in income tax. No host would have said NO to this proposition.
It is the NGO which is making the 'actual travel expense' and doing the 'Billing'. It undergoes Chartered Accountant's auditing also. Since the hosts know about it and they have not complained of 'illegitimacy', then one is hard pressed to find 'an issue' where non seems to exist. There are voices pontificating that only the lily white virtuous may preach moral virtue. Good luck with that. Please continue to wallow in filth. More likely, the 'hooked on corruption' are clutching at straws to find something to pin on team Anna. Is this sponsored spin clever or are the readers just gullible taking in this bait hook, line and sinker?
Ms Kiran bedi has catapulted her image as an upright official, while serving the country and Her contribution for the reforms in the tihar jail came in for appreciation even at the international level and she was conferred the magsaysay award on this account. She has given shape for a non governmental organization to continue her services to the society after retirement. The donors for this organization have paid air charges to her, considering Her status, and she forgoing her personal comfort, choose to travel in the economy class. With the main aim of increasing the finances of the NGO, and not for her personal enrichment. Throwing mud at her is highly improper.
A politician who collects money too will say that he is not taking the money for himself, but for the party activities. Will Ms.Bedi justify that?
The sensationalisation by some sections of media about this issue has been outright disgusting. Thank you "The Hindu" for your balanced coverage. Is it any wonder that all these so-called "dark secrets" are emerging only after the brave effort by Team Anna members to take on the high and the mighty !! This saga has been going on since the beginning. First it was the Bhushans, and then Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi now. From Sanjiv Bhatt who is being hounded by Modi, to the mud-slinging on Team Anna members, the story is same everywhere.
There is nothing wrong as long as she did not siphon any amount for personal uses. In fact, that is the best way to raise money for her NGO and commedable. Actually, she can ask for fixed amount of money for all expenses including air travel and what is left can be donated to NGO. Same thing either way.
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