New Delhi: Amidst the raging controversy of presenting inflated travel bills to companies and institutions that hosted her, Team Anna member and former top cop Kiran Bedi today said that she would return the balance amount. The public offer to give back the extra money- posted on the microblogging site Twitter - notwithstanding, Ms Bedi refused to speak when questioned on the matter.
"This is not the right place and not because I don't have answers...You are at the wrong place...If you want to speak to me, it will be in Delhi", Ms Bedi told mediapersons at a function in Mumbai where she was present to receive an award.
Ms Bedi has been accused of overcharging organisers - asking for Business class fares in flights while travelling Economy class. But in her defence, she has said that she was well within her rights to downgrade her choice from Business to Economy class. She also says that the practice wasn't for personal gain; instead, the difference accrued went into her NGO, India Vision Foundation.
Trustees of the NGO's Board too have backed her by passing a resolution and have asked her travel as per the tickets offered by the invitees, and not to worry about travelling Economy class to save money.
Offering to return the balance amount, Ms Bedi had, earlier in the day, tweeted, "Further to asking me to travel as per invite, trustees have instructed the travel agent to return the balance amounts forthwith".
But this clearly did not impress Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh who hit back saying, "This is no argument... to say that I am returning money... Even if Raja returns the money, will his crime be any less?"
The senior Congress leader - making headlines almost every other day for his attacks on Team Anna - has said that the allegations against Ms Bedi are serious and merit investigation.
A report in the Indian Express dated October 20 said Ms Bedi, a core member of Team Anna, charges her hosts business-class fares, but travels economy instead. At other times, the paper stated, Ms Bedi avails of a discount from Air India - which she is entitled to as a Gallantry Award winner. In both cases, the paper alleged, Ms Bedi collects full fares from her sponsors.
Reacting to the report, Ms Bedi had said, "Business class travel is part of the invitation/entitlement from the event organizers/corporates I'm asked to speak at".
Travelling economy is a choice despite entitlement only to ensure that savings remain with the NGO. No personal gain here."
She had also said that often, her hosts were aware that she would fly economy despite the more expensive tickets they buy for her. "I downgrade myself sometimes," she had said, adding that her hosts told her that how she chooses to spend the fare they assign to her ticket should be her personal decision.
"This is not the right place and not because I don't have answers...You are at the wrong place...If you want to speak to me, it will be in Delhi", Ms Bedi told mediapersons at a function in Mumbai where she was present to receive an award.
Ms Bedi has been accused of overcharging organisers - asking for Business class fares in flights while travelling Economy class. But in her defence, she has said that she was well within her rights to downgrade her choice from Business to Economy class. She also says that the practice wasn't for personal gain; instead, the difference accrued went into her NGO, India Vision Foundation.
Trustees of the NGO's Board too have backed her by passing a resolution and have asked her travel as per the tickets offered by the invitees, and not to worry about travelling Economy class to save money.
Offering to return the balance amount, Ms Bedi had, earlier in the day, tweeted, "Further to asking me to travel as per invite, trustees have instructed the travel agent to return the balance amounts forthwith".
But this clearly did not impress Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh who hit back saying, "This is no argument... to say that I am returning money... Even if Raja returns the money, will his crime be any less?"
The senior Congress leader - making headlines almost every other day for his attacks on Team Anna - has said that the allegations against Ms Bedi are serious and merit investigation.
A report in the Indian Express dated October 20 said Ms Bedi, a core member of Team Anna, charges her hosts business-class fares, but travels economy instead. At other times, the paper stated, Ms Bedi avails of a discount from Air India - which she is entitled to as a Gallantry Award winner. In both cases, the paper alleged, Ms Bedi collects full fares from her sponsors.
Reacting to the report, Ms Bedi had said, "Business class travel is part of the invitation/entitlement from the event organizers/corporates I'm asked to speak at".
Travelling economy is a choice despite entitlement only to ensure that savings remain with the NGO. No personal gain here."
She had also said that often, her hosts were aware that she would fly economy despite the more expensive tickets they buy for her. "I downgrade myself sometimes," she had said, adding that her hosts told her that how she chooses to spend the fare they assign to her ticket should be her personal decision.
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