MEAs 'cheap gifts' to Malaysian VIPs exposed

New Delhi, Jan 10: The reality of the gifts that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) gifted the Malaysian dignitaries during Foreign Minister, SM Krishna's visit to the country in 2011 has come out in open after the scam of inflated bills was revealed by an insider.

According to reports, when SM Krishna visited Malaysia in May 2011, he allegedly carried "expensive gifts" for the VIPs in the country. The list of gifts included an silver bowl for Rs 7,000, marble vase worth Rs 14,000, silver plate and ornate silver bowl for Rs 40,000 and a tarkashi box for Rs 1,800.

However, the actual price the MEA paid for the articles were, ornate silver bowl for Rs 14,315, silver bowl for Rs 3,000, silver plate for Rs 16,616, Tarkashi box between Rs 519-542 and marble vase was between Rs 8,000-12,000.

It was also found that the silver gifts were actually made of cheap alloy brass and not expensive metal.

The gifts were sourced by the MEA officials from Delhi's Assam Emporium.

OneIndia News