New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) The defence ministry has sued H.D. Deve Gowda to recover dues of over Rs.54 lakh for ‘non-official’ use of aircraft when he was prime minister in 1996-97.
This was revealed by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in an application filed under the Right to Information Act by social activist Subhash Agrawal.
‘It is stated that a case for recovery of the outstanding amount against Deve Godaw for his non-official use of IAF aircraft during his tenure as PM is pending in court,’ said a letter from the ministry dated June 23.
The case is at the ‘admission stage’. The next date of hearing is July 1.
Deve Gowda owes Rs.54.61 lakh for the use of IAF aircraft for non-official use from September 1996 to March 1997.
Earlier in 2001, the defence ministry had filed a suit against Chandra Shekhar, who was prime minister between November 1990 to June 1991 to recover dues of Rs.5.91 crore.
But the case was dismissed in June 2008 by Delhi High Court on the grounds of his death.
Congress member V.C. Shukhla, a former cabinet minister, also owes Rs.4.6 lakh for the use of IAF aircraft.
