LS Speaker Meira Kumar asked to pay Rs 1.98cr as house rent

NEW DELHI: The urban development ministry has asked Speaker Meira Kumar to pay Rs 1.98 crore for occupation of 6, Krishna Menon Marg.

In response to an RTI query, the estates department said Kumar had occupied the bungalow since 1986 after the demise of her father Jagjivan Ram. The department gave a list of 10 people, including “family members of late Indrani Devi, that is, Smt Mira Kumar (sic)”, and dues against them for occupation of bungalows. The list shows Kumar has a pending rent of Rs 1,98,22,723 for which a bill has been issued.

The department was replying to a query by RTI activist SC Agrawal on pending rent dues towards people having occupied government premises after losing entitlement.

When contacted, agency reports quoted the Speaker’s office, saying, “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.”

Two others mentioned in the list – senior Congress leader Buta Singh and Trai chairman J S Sarma – have no dues pending against them while former chief information commissioner A N Tiwari has to pay Rs 4.7 lakh.

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