Archive · 30 Sep 2026
DMK MP Seeks Probe Into Railway Officials’ Luxury Train Trips
A lawmaker named VS Matheswaran has asked the prime minister to investigate luxury-train trips taken by railway officials and their spouses.
He says 336 officials may have traveled this way during the last 12 years.
He believes public money or railway travel benefits may have paid for the trips.
The trains included the Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express and Deccan Odyssey.
Matheswaran says the Railway Ministry gave two different answers about whether spouses were allowed to travel.
The Railway Ministry says its answers are not contradictory.
It says the rules for family members apply to travel on tourist trains.
Matheswaran wants an investigation and repayment or disciplinary action if wrongdoing is found.
DMK MP VS Matheswaran asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to investigate 336 railway officials’ luxury-train trips with their spouses over 12 years.
Matheswaran alleged that public funds or railway travel entitlements paid for journeys on the Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express and Deccan Odyssey.
He said the Railway Ministry gave apparently contradictory parliamentary replies in 2022 and on July 29, 2026, about whether spouses could travel on such trains.
The Railway Ministry denied wrongdoing, saying tourist-train travel follows the same entitlement rules as other trains and refers to the rules’ definition of family.
Matheswaran sought an independent, time-bound inquiry, possible recovery of funds and action against officials if improper travel or inaccurate parliamentary information is established.
- Who
- DMK Lok Sabha member VS Matheswaran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Railway Ministry are central to the matter; 336 railway officials and their spouses are involved in the allegations.
- What
- Matheswaran has requested an investigation into luxury-train travel by railway officials and alleged misuse of public money, while the Railway Ministry denies any violation of norms.
- When
- The alleged trips took place over the past 12 years; Matheswaran’s letter was dated September 5, 2026, and he cited a ministry reply dated July 29, 2026.
- Where
- The request was made in New Delhi, concerning journeys on the Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express and Deccan Odyssey.
- Why
- Matheswaran says the trips may have exceeded officials’ entitlements and that the Ministry gave contradictory answers about whether spouses could travel; the Ministry says the applicable rules were followed.
Inquiry and Misuse Allegation
Ministry’s Rules-Based Defense
Whether public money was misused
Inquiry and Misuse Allegation
VS Matheswaran alleges that public funds or railway travel entitlements paid for luxury trips by 336 officials and their spouses, and seeks recovery if misuse is established.
Ministry’s Rules-Based Defense
The Railway Ministry denies wrongdoing or violations of norms in allowing officials to travel on the trains.
Whether parliamentary replies conflicted
Inquiry and Misuse Allegation
Matheswaran says the 2022 response allowed family travel under railway pass provisions, while the July 29, 2026 response said spouses could not travel, creating a serious contradiction.
Ministry’s Rules-Based Defense
The Ministry says the replies are consistent because tourist-train travel follows the same entitlement rules as other trains, with the rules’ definition of family guiding eligibility.
Need for further action
Inquiry and Misuse Allegation
Matheswaran wants an independent, comprehensive and time-bound inquiry into the trips, approvals, applicable rules and parliamentary responses.
Ministry’s Rules-Based Defense
The Ministry’s response maintains that the relevant rules and guidelines were followed, without acknowledging a need for the requested probe.
- Officials mentioned
- 336 railway officials allegedly traveled with their spouses over 12 years.
- Luxury trains
- Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express and Deccan Odyssey.
- Reported fares
- The trains’ fares range from Rs 4.5 lakh to Rs 26 lakh per person, depending on the itinerary.
- Letter date
- September 5, 2026.
- Earlier parliamentary reply
- In 2022, the Ministry reportedly said officials could travel on luxury trains with their families under applicable pass provisions.
- Later parliamentary reply
- Matheswaran said a July 29, 2026 reply stated that officials could not travel on luxury trains with their spouses.
- Ministry response
- The Railway Ministry said there was no contradiction and that tourist-train entitlements follow the rules applicable to other trains.