In an embarrassment to Raj Bhavan, state-owned BSNL has issued a notice to it seeking recovery of Rs 1,029 in dues for a causal telephone connection taken during a visit of former President A P J Abdul Kalam in 2010.
A Raj Bhavan official here said, "BSNL had not contacted us before issuing such a notice. We have settled their claim".
Kalam had stayed in the Anthapuri suite in the Kerala Governor's residence during a visit when the temporary connection was taken.
The bill amount, which came upto Rs 1,029, had been pending since then.
In a notice issued on November 18 this year, BSNL had stated that if the amount was not remited as early as possible, it would be recovered under revenue recovery proceedings.
Meanwhile, a BSNL official said the notice was issued "inadvertently".
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Meanwhile, BSNL in a press statement tonight denied
reports which appeared in a section of the media today that it had issued notice to late Dr Kalam.
"BSNL has not issued any notice in the name of Sri A P J Abdul Kalam nor initiated any revenue proceedings. Media have spread the news wrongly. BSNL has high respect and regard for Dr Abdul Kalam. BSNL regrets that the name of Dr Kalam, honourable person, has been brought unnecessarily in this case," it said.
In 2010, during the visit of former president at Thiruvananthapuram, Raj Bhavan had taken a casual connection bearing no 272480 which had an arrear of RS 1,030 for which BSNL had issued notice to Rajbhavan authorities to pay the dues, the press note stated.
As per this, Rajbhavan had paid the arrears on December 2, 2015.
On the address portion of the notice, there was a line of mention that the connection was given temporarily during visit of Dr Kalam, it said.
