LS Speaker Meira Kumar owes Rs 1.98 crore as house rent

New Delhi, Nov 22: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has been asked to pay Rs 1.98 crore as house rent for a bungalow she was occupying "illegally" at 6 Krishna Menon Marg, said the union government.

The estates department in response to an RTI query, said that Kumar had occupied the bungalow after her father Jagjivan Ram passed away in 1986.

A list of 10 people was given by the department including "family members of late Indrani Devi, that is, Smt Mira Kumar (sic)", and dues against them for occupation of bungalows. The list also showed that the Lok Sabha speaker has a pending rent of Rs 1,98,22,723 for which a bill was issued.

The department was replying to a query made by SC Agarwal, RTI activist on pending rent dues people owed after losing entitlement of government premises.

"The family members of late Smt Indrani Devi vacated 6, Krishna Menon Marg, New Delhi by 30.11.2002, and intimation in this regard was given to CPWD, NDMC, director of estates and other concerned authorities. NDMC disconnected water and electricity supply immediately. None of the family members of late Smt Indrani Devi have, thereafter, been in the occupation of the said premises," said Meira Kumar's office.

The two other mentioned in the list are J Sarma, Trai chairman and Buta Singh, Congress leader who have no pending dues against them, while AN Tiwari, former chief information commissioner has to pay Rs 4.7 lakh.

OneIndia News