Haj functionaries caught on camera while taking bribe

New Delhi, Dec 27 (UNI) Senior functionaries of the Haj Committees of three states were caught on camera by a private television channel while taking bribes for the allotment of haj seats to aspiring pilgrims.

The three officials, belonging to the committees of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, charged up to Rs 15,000 for a haj seat from a reporter of the CNN-IBN television channel, who posed as a travel agent. Similarly, Rs 500 were also charged for the haj form, which is provided free of cost to the applicants by the Central Haj Committee.

The government provides Rs 18,000 subsidy for each Haj pilgrim if he is sponsored by the Central Haj Committee.

It was found that many functionaries of the haj committee were involved in the racket of allotment of seats for the pilgrims.

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