Rashtripati Bhavan refutes media reports on Trans Asia Chamber

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Rashtrapati Bhavan today took strong exception to media reports that someone claiming to be a convenor of Mumbai's Trans Asia Chamber of Commerce and Industries had offered its services to people in facilitating their meeting with President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

According to the reports, Sanjay Bhide and Niranjan Ganjawala had sent messages to the people that if they were keen to meet the Indian President, they should join Trans Asia Chamber and submit their photographs and some money.

Describing the communication in this regard as ''mischievous and illegal'', a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, ''This is to clarify that no such person by the name of Sanjay Bhide or Niranjan Ganjawala as reportedly mentioned in the message or any other person has been authorised to bring people to meet the Hon'ble President.,'' Mr S M Khan, Press Secretary to the President who issued the statement, said, ''Any such communication by any person is totally mischievous, unauthorised and illegal.'' He added that necessary legal steps were also being taken in this regard.

The statement further said that ''any person can directly meet the Hon'ble President after seeking appointment from her Private Secretary.'' UNI SKS YA KP1758