Gifts received during the tenure of former President to be returned
27 Sep, 2012In response to an applications filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, it was revealed that the former President Pratibha Patil had permitted transfer of several "gifts" received by her as President of India to a museum of the Vidya Bharati Shaikshanik Mandal in her hometown Amravati in Maharashtra for display. The said Vidya Bharati Shaikshanik Mandal is controlled by her son and Congress MLA Rajendra Singh Shekhawat. For the earlier byte on the issue, please refer to http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/rti-reply-reveals-there-are-no-rules...
Now, in response to another application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Rashtrapati Bhawan has informed that all articles would be returned. The President's Press Secretary has informed that it was a decision taken by President Pranab Mukherjee soon after he took office.
As per rules, all such gifts are required to be deposited with the government.