Raj Bhavan, Arif Mohammed Khan | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Raj Bhavan had reportedly spent nearly Rs 9 lakh on hospitality in the past four years. An increase from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh has been found annually in this category of expense. Rs 2.49 lakh has been utilised for guests during 2020-21, when the pandemic was at its peak. The expenditure increased to Rs 3.71 lakh in the next financial year.
Raj Bhavan depends on the heads of account ‘hospitality’ for meeting the expenditures related to guests. The governor’s residence had spent Rs 8,96,494 from this account within the last four years.
A considerable surge has been recorded in the expenses coming under hospitality category, after Arif Mohammed Khan took charge at Raj Bhavan.
The expenditures of Raj Bhavan which are not usually subjected to auditing have surfaced now due to the ongoing tussles between the governor and the government. A feast named ‘At Home’ had been conducted at Raj Bhavan on Independence day and Republic day customarily. Though this event was not carried out in previous years due to Covid 19, the governor received funds allocated for this and distributed as donations. Hence, this amount was not included in the expenditures that surfaced now.
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