India's icon APJ Abdul Kalam is no more but left behind debt of Rs 1029

New Delhi: India's icon and former president APJ Abdul Kalam may have left us for his heavenly abode but he left behind a debt of Rs 1029 -- in the form of a telephone bill that he owed to the state-run telecom operator BSNL.

Although a small sum, the telecom operator seemed to be anxious, albeit late, about recovering the amount as it has emerged it sent a notice to late former president asking him to clear the dues or else it would attach his properties.

BSNL's faux-pass comes months after he passed away in July 2015.

The notice dated November 18, 2015, advised the late president to opt for a one-time settlement to clear the long-pending due of Rs 1,029 (phone no 2724800) or face revenue recovery action. It also directed its recovery officer in Thiruvananthapuram to seize his movable and unmovable properties if he failed to clear the due.

The bill was generated when Kalam had stayed at Kerala Raj Bhawan in Thiruvananthpuram for two days. Kalam habitually stayed at one of the suite rooms on the premises, even after he demitted office.

It has emerged that Kerala Raj Bhawan has now decided to make the payment to avoid further embarrassment.

APJ Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.

A career scientist turned politician, APJ Abdul Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering.