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Make expenses for Air India charter flights for PM Modi’s foreign trips public: CIC

Published

9 years ago

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Make expenses for Air India charter flights for PM Modi’s foreign trips public: CIC - APN Live

In an order that could cause much discomfiture to the BJP and give the Opposition some ammunition to target the Centre, the Central Information Commission has directed the Union External Affairs Ministry to disclose records related to the expenses incurred on chartering Air India aircraft for foreign visits of the prime minister from 2013 to 2017.

Though the period covered under the CIC order includes the last year of Dr Manmohan Singh’s prime ministerial tenure too (April 2013 to March 2014), the Opposition as well as Modi’s critics among common citizens would be keenly looking forward to the MEA’s response as the expenditure incurred on these chartered flights is expected to run into several crores of rupees. The likely narrative that Modi bashers would want to build, if and when these details are indeed made public, would be of the lavish spending that the Prime Minister has done of the exchequer’s money through his seemingly endless foreign visits and the corresponding monetary return – or lack of it – that this expenditure has brought for India’s economy.

Passing the order, Chief Information Commissioner RK Mathur rejected the contention of the MEA that details of the amount, reference numbers, dates of bills raised by Indian Air Force and Air India for the foreign visits undertaken by the Prime Minister(s) are scattered across various records and files and that collation of this information would involve searching of voluminous records by a significant number of officials.

The CIC order came against an application filed by one Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Commodore Batra had sought details of bills, invoices and other records related to foreign visits of the prime ministers between financial years 2013-14 and 2016-17.

Ever since assuming the office of Prime Minister in May 2014, Modi has been criticised for spending more time visiting countries than being in India. As of February 2018, Modi has visited 53 countries spread across six continents and 35 foreign trips.

Modi has visited USA on five occasions in the past four years and made three visits each to China, Germany, France and Russia. His robust international travel itinerary has also featured visits to countries like Afghanistan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UAE, Uzbekistan (twice each) and Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the UK and Vietnam (once each), among others.

The order of the CIC comes after Batra, who had sought these details on several earlier occasions from various Indian high commissions abroad and the MEA, approached the Commission in appeal and claimed that he had either denied information or was provided with only selective details. He submitted before the CIC that he was seeking the said information in public interest, so that the common taxpayers can be informed of how their money was be spent by the Prime Minister and at what stage or with which public authority these bills and invoices for the foreign trips of the prime ministers were pending for payment.

“Air India is a cash-strapped airline that does not make money. Therefore, delay in settling these bills would also include sizable interest figure(s), which needs to be paid at the expense of tax payers money,” Batra had said. He had also insisted that denial of this information on the grounds of compromising national security – a clause often cited by public authorities to deny requested information – was incorrect as details sought by him are in the nature of the liabilities of the consumer(s) to pay back for the services rendered by Air India.

The CIC concluded that payment of outstanding dues would ultimately require collating of these bills and invoices and rejected the argument of the MEA that collation would disproportionately divert its resources. The Chief Information Commissioner said even if payment was made against these bills, it would have been done after compiling of bills/invoices.

“Further, whatever payment is to be made, it needs to be done after collecting the bills/invoices. In view of this, the Commission is of the opinion that the respondent (MEA) should provide to the appellant (Batra) travel bills relating to ‘Air India’ from FYs. 2013-14 to 2016-17,” the CIC order says.

—With Agency inputs, India Legal Bureau

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India News

LPU students protest over reported rape allegation, police call it rumour

Students at Lovely Professional University protested over a reported rape allegation involving a worker, with police describing the claim as a rumour.

Published

15 hours ago

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September 27, 2026

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Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

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India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 26, 2026

By

Rahul-Gandhi

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise. 

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process. 

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt. 

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously. 

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting. 

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

  • Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
  • The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
  • Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
  • A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
  • A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

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“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight 

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 26, 2026

By

Sahil Wakode

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.

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