Trustee of Kiran Bedi's NGO quits, claims his reputation tarnished

NEW DELHI: Already in the thick of controversies, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi today faced problems from within when one of the founder members of her NGO managing her trips quit the trust claiming his reputation has been tarnished.

Anil Bal, proprietor of Flywell Travel and a trustee of India Vision Foundation run by Bedi, said the activist's defence on overcharging her hosts has conveyed the wrong impression among public that he was responsible for inflated invoices after issuing cheaper tickets.

"In view of what has happened which unnecessarily tarnished my reputation I have decided to resign as trustee of IVF with immediate effect and have also requested IVF to engage another travel agent for their travel needs.

"Amount to the credit of IVF as on date in our records is being refunded to IVF by crossed cheque to close the account with us," Bal said in a statement here.

Bedi allegedly overcharged hosts by inflating her travel bills and that she availed discounts on air tickets using her gallantry medal. She defended herself saying she did not personally benefit and that the money thus saved went to the foundation.

The former IPS officer, while offering to return the excess money thus collected, said Bal was handling the travel account and has been asked to return the money.

"Some newspapers have even gone ahead to name me as the treasurer of IVF handling Bedi's travel. Certain TV channels have shown the pro-forma invoices to say that my company has deliberately inflated the invoices. All this has greatly damaged my reputation," he said.

Bal, who knows Bedi for the last 25 years and have been associated with her in various social projects, claimed his firm has no interaction with any of the organisations for whom Bedi undertakes the travel and have no knowledge of the understanding they have with the Foundation.