MUMBAI: On each of her well-documented tours, former President Pratibha Patil travelled with close to 100 people, which included, besides officials, members of her family as well as friends who joined in as 'Presidential guests'.
Patil found herself in an embarrassing situation when it was discovered that the government had stopped footing a bill of Rs 225 crore for her jaunts as the country's head.
Now, an RTI response throws light on how she ended up burdening the exchequer with such a mind-boggling travel tab. With her she took not just family but also friends for good company.
Picture this: Between September 30 and October 7, 2011, up to 100 Indians travelled with Patil to Switzerland and Austria. Besides officials, her entourage included her husband, daughter and son-in-law, grandchildren, and one Santosh Rathore, who traveled as the President's guest.
Again, just a few months ago, when she visited a few east Asian countries, Presidential guests Rahul Patil, Omsingh Shekhawat and Prithviraj Solanki joined in for a week.
Most such trips lasted 7-10 days and usually comprised 100 people. "This is a gross misuse of tax-payers' hard-earned money by none other than head of the nation," said RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal.
"The President's secretariat, after CIC directions, has now reluctantly provided complete details of the large fleet of accompanying persons with then President of India, Pratibha Patil, on her numerous trips in India and abroad, confirming her taking friends and relations (other than spouse) on these pleasure trips made in the name of official trips."
She made 23 trips to foreign lands during her five-year tenure starting July 2007. Even on her domestic trips, lasting 2-3 days, she rarely travelled alone.
'Friends' among 100s on ex-President's 'pleasure trips'
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'Friends' among 100s on ex-President's 'pleasure trips'
