Four days after The Indian Express reported how, in at least 12 instances, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi raised inflated air fare invoices to overcharge her host NGOs and institutions, Bedi announced today that the "balance amounts" were being returned "forthwith".

"Foundation trustees have passed resolution directing me (to) travel strictly as per invite. This leaves no room for discretion...Trustees have instructed travel agent to return the balance amounts forthwith," she tweeted.

This was a clear climbdown from her earlier refrain. To those who questioned her bills, her stock tweet was: "You are committing a sin."

But in Mumbai today to receive an award, Kiran Bedi ducked all questions saying, "A rose comes with the thorns." She didn't specify how many inflated invoices in all she was referring to, what the total balance amounted to, or the time frame in which this payment would be made.

These issues assume significance given that The Indian Express has tracked  with records of bills and invoices  at least 18 more examples in which false invoices were raised to overcharge organisations for her travel. In most of the cases, she claimed Business while paying for discounted Economy. In some cases, she charged inflated Economy tickets too:

With award Discount...

On these flights, Kiran Bedi used the

75 per cent discount she is entitled to as a gallantry award winner

* May 13, 2009

Indore to Mumbai on IC 134, then to Delhi on IC 605 the next day

Total fare paid: Rs 10,029 (Economy)

Invoices generated for: Rs 20,054 (Business), Rs 7,965 (Economy)

* May 4, 2009

Delhi to Mumbai on IC 657, back the same day on IC 888

Total fare paid: Rs 12,589 (Economy)

Invoice generated for: Rs 40,208 (Business)

* April 6, 2009

Delhi to Goa on IC 865, back the next day on IC 866

... contd.

ALSO READ CBI sought part RTI exemption, Govt gave it full

Please read our terms of use before posting comments