The Hindu : National : Probe rail reservation scam: BJP MP

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Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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National

Probe rail reservation scam: BJP MP

Special Correspondent

`New mechanism of bookings for MPs needed'

NEW DELHI: Rakesh Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament from Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), has demanded a CBI enquiry into allegations of illegal sale of tickets levelled against several MPs.

A private television channel and a news magazine had alleged that several MPs, including Mr. Singh, often booked railways tickets on several trains on the same day and probably let their relatives travel on these or perhaps sold them off.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Singh said he had written to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad explaining that of the 171 bookings listed against his name, he had travelled only on 36 occasions and no reservations were made at all on 56 routes as alleged. Mr. Singh said he had received a reply from the Ministry saying that the matter would be looked into.

Mr. Singh said it was not possible for anyone to travel on a ticket booked on an MP's pass as he or she was required to show proof to the railway authorities during the journey and in case the reservation was done and the MP was unable to travel on that booking, the reservation is cancelled automatically two stations from the boarding station.

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