Now, tourism minister spends Rs 2 crore on tour to Germany

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar have issued written instructions preventing ministers from misusing the state’s money for frivolous reasons.

In such a situation, Jaykumar Rawal, the minister for tourism, flew to Germany to attend a film festival organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Department (MTDC). MTDC has appointed a public relations agency to promote the festival for Rs 2 crore which he sanctioned himself after which he took the CM’s approval.

The Indian Consulate in Germany for the first time organised Maharashtra Day celebrations for two days in Munich and Stuttgart with assistance from MTDC on May 1 this year. The film festival has been organised in Munich for which Rs 1.85 lakh crore was needed.

The MTDC official sent the proposal to minister Rawal, who approved it on July 6 with his remarks. His noting on proposal said that when the tour was planned in advance, why had MTDC delayed in seeking his approval for this proposal? In his noting, he further objected to the appointment of ‘Allica Purple’ the agency hired to organise and promote the tour as it is not empanelled on the MTDC list.

The proposal was later submitted to the finance department which raised objections on the expenditure and returned the proposal.

According to the official, Rawal met the chief minister and urged him to sign his approval for the travel expense as a “special case.” The team of four including Rawal, his Officer on Special Duty, the joint managing director of MTDC and one more official flew to Germany on July 17.

Rawal was not available for comment and his private secretary and other staff claimed the minster was in Mumbai but declined to speak more about his tour.

After the announcement of loan waiver of Rs 32,000 crore, the state has issued instructions to avoid journey by plane to the ministers and bureaucrats if not necessary.

Sachin Sawant, spokesperson of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, criticised Rawal for breaching the government’s instruction.

“Rawal not only disobeyed the chief minister’s instructions, but has also spent tax-payers’ money,” Sawant said.

Sachin Sawant, spokesperson of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, criticised Rawal for breaching government instructions