New Delhi: The Central Information Commission has directed the external affairs ministry to disclose the names of private individuals who have travelled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on foreign tours.

Last October, Karabi Das had approached the ministry seeking information on expenses incurred on the foreign visits of the Prime Minister in 2015-16 and 2016-17 along with the list of people travelling with him. No satisfactory information was provided to the applicant.

The ministry had demanded Rs 224 for providing the information, which was deposited by the applicant, activist Subhash Agrawal, who represented Das, told chief information commissioner R.K. Mathur.

In its submissions during the hearing, the ministry said no other data was maintained in consolidated form on the visits of the Prime Minister except the date and place of visit and the expenses incurred on chartered flights.

The ministry also told the commission that it would look into the claim that Rs 224 had been charged for the information and would provide updated information.

"List of private persons (not linked with security) who travelled with the Prime Minister of India on government expenditure should be provided to the appellant redacting names of other officials," Mathur ordered. PTI