Vinod Khanna, Sushma yet to pay Himachal hotel dues

The office of the Chief Justice of India, veteran cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi, actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna and MP Sushma Swaraj are...

The office of the Chief Justice of India, veteran cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi, actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna and MP Sushma Swaraj are among several high-profile entities who owe the Himachal Pradesh state tourism body hospitality dues.

According to a report on debtors of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation — tabled in the House on the first day of the Winter Session on Friday — Rs 46.62 lakh had to be recovered from various government offices and state guests as on March 31, 2004.

Highlighting the details of sundry debtors in respect of Hotel Holiday Home for a period up to March 1994, ‘provisions of doubtful debt’ have been listed against the office of Comptroller Raj Bhawan (Rs 54,450), the HP Forest Corporation (Rs 30,081), Chief Justice of India (Rs 405), DC, Shimla (Rs 5,026), Director, Industries (Rs 15,318), Secretary, Home Vigilance (Rs 4375), Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Rs 1933), transport minister (Rs 750), private secretary to Education and Tourism, minister et al.

Story continues below this ad

An amount of Rs 6,050 (2002-03) and Rs 4,133 (2002-03) were to be realised from Vinod Khanna and BJP MP Sushma Swaraj respectively by the Dharamsala complex on March 31, 2004. An amount of Rs 44,143 (1996-1997) is also pending against the name of veteran cricketer Bishan Singh Bedi at Hotel Chail.

Tourism Minister G.S. Bali, said he had issued instructions for quick recovery of the amount due towards the Tourism Corporation. In some cases, he said there was a row over the discount to be offered. Negotiations were on with offices that have to pay the balance amount, he added.