Karnataka Governor Spent Rs 3.5 Crore on Renovation, Chartered flights, Finds RTI

Bengaluru:  In the nine months since he has stepped into office, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala has spent a hefty Rs 3.5 crore, an application filed under the RTI Act has found.

Of this, more than Rs 2.4 crore was spent on upgrading the Raj Bhavan in the heart of Bengaluru. The rest has been spent on chartered flights for the Governor to travel around, says the reply to the RTI query by Kannada news channel Public TV.

The information, supplied by the state’s public works department, is expected to create a controversy.

Mr Vala was appointed by the BJP-led Union government last September. The party’s tallest leader in the state, Mr Yeddyurappa, said an “issue is being made of the matter unnecessarily”.

The Governor, he said, “has got every right to get all facilities”.

Law minister TB Jayachandra refused to comment on the matter.

“The governor is the Constitutional head of the state. I don’t want to comment… and in fact, I don’t have any information also,” he said.