Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Monday denied that there was any financial transaction in Raj Nivas and said that her office only acted as a connector and facilitator for donors.

Stating that Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy’s allegations were without basis, Ms. Bedi said: “There is no financial transaction at all at Raj Nivas. The Chief Minister is making wild allegations. He is not realising that telling lies is a sin. On other allegations, Raj Nivas instead is a donor. We give away shawls, sweets and fruits we receive from visitors by sending them to needy places of the underprivileged daily.”

“Many come to my Open House and request for places they can donate. Raj Nivas acts as a connector and facilitator for the donor to give and donate. We do not deal with money at all,” Ms. Bedi said.

In a statement, Ms. Bedi pointed out that all the desilting work was being done by direct donors with machinery covering 86 km of 23 choked channels. This would have cost the government more than ₹10 crore.

It was being done by the community now, she added.