The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday questioned sitting Rajya Sabha member Brajesh Pathak and former MP Renu Bala Pradhan for their alleged involvement in making full claims on heavily discounted Air India tickets under the Companion Scheme.
The e-tickets furnished by the accused persons were provided by Delhi-based travel agents. According to the CBI, Mr. Pathak had submitted bills for eight companion tickets to claim a refund of Rs.2.2 lakh. However, actual payment of only Rs.10,000 had been made for the discounted tickets.
“Ms. Pradhan had paid only Rs.5,600 for four such tickets, but claimed a refund of Rs.1.62 lakh on the basis of e-tickets,” the official said.
Based on the findings, the CBI registered cases of corruption, criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery besides falsification of accounts by three sitting and three former Rajya Sabha members and others.
The agency had on Monday questioned Rajya Sabha MP D. Bandopadhyay of the Trinamool Congress.
