CPIL’s reliance on CAG reports draws red arrow at Sibal, Anil Ambani after taking down Maran
Referring to the audit reports drafted by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and Inquiry Commission Justice Shivraj V Patil that recently brought to the fore the role played by DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, who resigned from UPA’s cabinet as Textile Minister, in the 2G scam, the Centre of Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), on Thursday, put forth an affidavit that alleges that the Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal over-ruled the penalty imposed by the DoT on Anil Ambani owned Reliance ADAG, which indirectly tried to apply for UAS (Unified Access Services) through the CAG relegated body of Swan Telecom.
Reliance ADAG, according to CPIL, indirectly applied for UAS (Unified Access Services) licenses in 13 circles, where it had no GSM spectrum, through alleged holding of Swan Telecom. The allegation suggests that Swan Telecom was created out of funds arranged from Reliance Telecom because of which the Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) declared the latter eligible of penalty of Rs. 50 crore per circle. Imposing this penalty would ascertain that Reliance had to pay Rs. 650 crores in fine for all 13 circles. CPIL has ruled, after reviewing references from CAG report that Sibal has over-ruled the penalty imposed in favor of Reliance Telecom by reducing the penalty amount to only Rs. 5 crores per circle.
CPIL has appealed for an in-depth investigation by CBI into the alleged ‘abuse of authority’ by Sibal to benefit Reliance Telecom. Sibal has also been put under the spotlight for calling the CAG report on 2G spectrum scam as ‘utterly erroneous' and claiming that national exchequer has suffered 'zero loss’.
ADAG head Anil Ambani is also at the centre of allegation of allegedly ‘assuring the three charge sheeted Reliance employees of all legal assistance’, in contradiction to his stand as a ‘victim’ of the process.
The investigating agency is expected to submit a second supplementary charge sheet soon on the requested appeal of CPIL.
Tags: CAG , Reliance CAG , CAG Audit , Lt , P
