CBI questions 2 more in LTC scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday questioned Rajya Sabha member Brajesh Pathak of BSP and former BJD MP, Renubala Pradhan in connection with the case registered for irregularities in submitting air travel bills. The case is popularly referred to as Leave and Travel Concession (LTC) scam.

The investigators separately questioned the accused for more than two hours on Tuesday afternoon. The questioning, CBI officials said, took place in a cordial manner and the accused were supportive.
"We have questioned Brajesh Pathak and Renubala Pradhan in connection with the travel bill case registered last week," said a senior CBI official.

The CBI has so far questioned three accused in the case, including TMC Rajya Sabha member, D Bandyopadhay. Three other former and sitting Rajya Sabha MPs will be called for questioning during this week, said the CBI official.

According to the CBI, Pathak allegedly siphoned Rs 2.10 lakh while Pradhan allegeldy siphoned Rs 1.62 lakh by submitting inflated travel bills. However, Pathak said that he was not questioned by the CBI officials. "I was not questioned by CBI," Pathak told dna over phone.

Last week CBI registered six cases against six sitting and former members of Rajya Sabha for cheating and forgery in the LTC scam as they allegedly claimed the reimbursements through forged bills. The agency named three sitting MPs — D Bandyopadhyay of Trinamool Congress, Brajesh Pathak of BSP and Lalhming Liana of Mizo National Front in the FIR. Former Rajya Sabha members JPN Singh (BJP), Mahmood A Madani (Rashtriya Lok Dal) and Renu Pradhan (Biju Janata Dal) have been named as accused as well. Some of the travel agents who have allegedly facilitated the bills are also on the CBI's radar.

The case has been registered under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467(forgery), 468(forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using forged document as genuine) of IPC and 13(2), 13(1)(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act.

"The allegation against the people named in FIRs is that they claimed full payment on companion's air tickets from Rajya Sabha Secretariat using fake e-tickets for traveling by Air India flight," said senior CBI official.

As per the set procedure, MPs from both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, get 34 free Air India tickets each year for travel within the country along with spouse or any number of companions or relatives.

CBI registered the first FIR in the scam in November 2013, against JD(U) Rajya Sabha Anil Kumar Sahani for allegedly presenting fake air tickets and boarding pass by siphoning off around Rs 9.5 lakh.