CBI registers case against rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Sahani for fraudulent LTC claims

The CBI has registered a case against Janata Dal (United) Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Sahani for allegedly filing fraudulent Leave Travel Concession claims using forged air tickets and boarding passes.

The investing agency carried out searches on Saturday at Rajya Sabha secretariat and other locations.

According to CBI sources, after registering an FIR, agency teams carried out searches at Rajya Sabha secretariat, Sahani's Muzaffarpur residence in Bihar and at his office.

The sources added there could be more cases registered soon, in connection with the LTC scam.

Sources added that the agency had registered a case under Prevention of Corruption Act and sections of Indian Penal Code against the MP.

A CBI spokesperson said in New Delhi, that the agency had registered an FIR against a Rajya Sabha MP in a case of fraudulent claims on the basis of forged air tickets and boarding passes.

The agency had initiated a preliminary enquiry after reference it received from Central Vigilance Commission.

An analysis of documents, revealed that the CBI found prima facie evidence of alleged irregularities in filing of LTC claims which was intended to maximise personal benefit.

The agency found that the alleged irregularity was effected in collusion with travel agents, with lakhs of rupees having been fraudulently drawn from the government through fake LTC claims filed by government officials for getting tickets at concessional rates.

According to CBI, Sawhney and other lawmakers claimed reimbursement for trips that they did not make by furnishing fake boarding passes and air tickets given to them by travel agents who allegedly took 50 per cent of the money claimed.

All MPs get 34 free air tickets a year for domestic flights, paid for by taxpayers, which are meant to facilitate their visit to their constituencies and other areas on work.

In Sawhney's case according to the FIR, he produced fake boarding passes for purported flights to Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to claim Rs 1.35 lakh in reimbursement.

NDTV said quoting CBI sources that it was also investigating the role of officials of national carrier Air India in the issuance of fake tickets and boarding passes not only to politicians, but also government officials and travel agents.

The CBI has booked an Air India official and some tour operators too.

The alleged scam came to light in March when Air India was alerted about the arrest of a man at Kolkata airport, who had in his possession 600 blank Air India  boarding passes.