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The British House of Lords has announced a probe into expenses claimed by NRI industrialist , after he requested for an inquiry into allegations that he wrongly claimed parliamentary allowances, a charge he vehemently denies.
Taking on his critics, mostly from the media, the 78-year-old Labour peer requested the House for a probe into the allegations that he claimed 38,000 pounds between 2004 and 2006 for staying in a flat at Oxfordshire which is part of a hotel owned by him.
He has maintained that he did not sleep in the flat but was entitled for 174 pounds per night allowance because that was his residence during the period. He also pointed out that he did not claim any allowance in 2004.
The NRI industrialist took the initiative to have the charge cleared by making the request for a probe which will be conducted by clerk of the House, who is equivalent to the secretary general of the Lok Sabha.
Pending the inquiry, Swraj Paul will not function as deputy speaker of the House at his own request. A spokesman of the House of Lords said: "Following media allegations on October 11 and 12 regarding Lord Paul's claims for overnight subsistence allowance, the House of Lords authorities are to conduct an investigation into the allegations, after a request from Lord Paul to do so".
"During the course of the investigation by the House authorities, Lord Paul will not undertake duties as a deputy speaker," the spokesman said.
The development comes amidst a huge controversy surrounding allowance claims by members of both houses belonging to all major parties.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown will repay 12,415 pounds he claimed in expenses since 2004 while Conservative leader David Cameron has been asked by independent auditor Sir Thomas Legg to provide more information about payments for which he over-claimed in 2006 when he changed his mortgage. He has already repaid 218 pounds.
Downing Street confirmed that Brown would repay the money, largely for cleaning and gardening, even though the claims had been within the rules at the time.
It said auditor Sir Thomas had 'deemed' that any annual claims above 2,000 pounds for cleaning and 1,000 pounds for gardening should be repaid.
Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg is to repay 910 pounds of the 3,900 pounds he claimed for gardening between 2006 and 2009.
Chancellor Alistair Darling is to repay 554 pounds he claimed towards a chest of drawers to furnish his second home.
He had claimed 1,104 pounds but Sir Thomas has imposed a limit of 550 pounds for such items.
Meanwhile, shadow chancellor George Osborne has been asked to provide copies of his mortgage interest statements. It is understood that he has not been asked to repay any money.
Sir Thomas, a former civil servant, was asked to scrutinise all MPs' claims after the furore when details of claims were leaked to the Daily Telegraph in May.
MPs are allowed to claim expenses for running a second home but there was uproar in May when receipts and details of what they had been claiming for were leaked to the newspaper.
Image: Lord Swraj Paul