New Delhi: Ending a controversy over non-payment of the bills for his and his family's stay at a Goa hotel, Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy today (Feb 9, 2004) sent two drafts totalling Rs 2.44 lakh to clear the dues, sources close to him said.

The Minister sent the bank drafts this morning, the sources said.

The bills pertained to the expenses during his five-day, four-night stay at the Taj Exotica Hotel with his family members from December 30 last year to January 2.

With Opposition demanding his dismissal and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the episode, the Minister last night said he had not paid the bills as he was negotiating with the hotel authorities for rationalisation of accommodation tariff.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had also stated that it had not made any payment for Rudy's Goa stay on the "express instructions" from the office of the Minister.

Rudy had said that though his Goa visit was a "personal" one, he had held official meetings during his stay there, including one with the Chief Minister and another to review the functioning of the airport.