Karnataka pulled up by SC for billing Madani Rs 15 lakh as escort fee

They can only claim their travel and dearness allowance, the court also said.

The Supreme Court pulled up the Karnataka government for raising a Rs 15 lakh bill towards escorting Abdul Nasar Madani, an accused in the Bengaluru blasts case.

Is this the way you carry out orders of the Supreme Court, the SC asked. Do not try and scuttle things as we expect a certain amount of seriousness, the court also said. The Bench further asked, " why do you make it difficult."

The counsel representing Madani said that the order of the SC which permitted him to travel to Kerala was sought to be frustrated by making such a claim. The counsel also said that the Karnataka government raised a bill of Rs 15 lakh from Madani for providing him escort during his stay at Kerala between August 2 to 14.

Karnataka however said that the bill was raised as per a 1991 circular. Moreover we have already spent Rs 6 crore on Madani, Karnataka also contended.

The court while rejecting Karnataka's claim said that the police personnel were being paid a salary. They can only claim their travel and dearness allowance, the court also said.

OneIndia News