New Delhi, Dec 11: Air travel bills of Retired General V. K. Singh and Union Minister Sadanand Gowda have not been cleared as they flew airlines other than the official airlines of government Air India. According to a report on Indian Express, a government employee can only travel by Air India for official purpose and exemption can only be made after attaching a proof non-availability of seats or urgency of an official meeting. Both the ministers failed to provide a proof. Also Read - Reassess COVID Situation, Focus on Micro Containment Zones: PM Modi to CMs of 7 Worst-hit States

The duo in total made 28 officials trips across the country, out of which 11 were made by V.K. Singh and 17 by Gowda, costing around Rs 44 lakh, the bills is for four months and most of the trips were made from the national capital. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in a letter to Ashok Lavasa (Expenditure secretary) stated that proposals of the Ministers to travel by airlines other than Air India had not been approved by the Financial Advisor of the Centre. Also Read - Shaheen Bagh's 82-Year-Old Bilkis Named in Time Magazine's List of 100 Most Influential People

“I am not authorised to clear the bills of Ministers,” Indian Express quoted MoSPI Secretary T.C. Anand. Also Read - PM Modi to Hold High-level Meeting With CMs of 7 States/UTs Today | What to Expect

According to Indian Express, Balmer Lawrie Tours & Travels books the tickets for official trips of Ministers on behalf of the MoSPI and the amount is later reimbursed by the Ministry.

VK Singh:

V.K. Singh is a retired general of the Indian army and served as a chief of army from 2010 to 2012. He was the 24th chief of Indian Army and is currently the Minister of State of External Affairs.

Sadanand Gowda:

Mr. Gowda was a former Chief Minister of Karnataka and is currently the Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation and was given this portfolio after cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 5, 2016.