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CAG stands by 1.76 L cr loss figure
Trashing Congress theory of zero loss in 2G scam, CAG Vinod Rai has staunchly defended the Auditor’s figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore loss in spectrum allocation. Deposing before JPC on Tuesday, he explained to the parliamentarians on how the auditors finalised the huge loss figure by “thorough examining” of findings of different auditors and units whose assessment pegged the loss between Rs 2,645 crore to Rs 4.19 lakh crore.
Rai’s deposition exposed the Congress MPs and certain affected corporates, who were questioning the CAG final loss figure by referring to the initial assessment of a retired r auditor. Rai said that former Director General RP Singh, who appeared before the JPC on Monday, first pegged the loss to a paltry `2,645 crore way back in May 2010, and himself revised it to `1.02 lakh crore after the high-value 3G auction.
The figure of `1.76 lakh was arrived by the CAG adding this final figure (`1.02 lakh crore) with the loss from controversial allotment of dual policy to Reliance Communication and Tata Teleservices and the allotment of additional spectrum to the existing operators by former Telecom Minister A Raja at old rates, explained CAG to the MPs.
Later addressing media, after the five-hour long deposition of CAG, JPC chairman PC Chacko said that Rai’s deposition would continue on November 22. Terming the interaction with Rai as “rigorous and cordial”, Chacko said that “CAG informed that no officials was over-ruled in the spectrum audit, though he had done so in some other audits.”
Responding to questions from Congress MPs that the CAG’s huge loss figure had “tarnished the image of the country” CAG responded that “we have to conduct our audit,” Chacko said.
CAG told the MPs that he wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he felt some gap of communication happened in the press conference in which PM blamed the auditing organization for holding media briefings. But he told the MPs’ that he can’t divulge what transpired in his July 7 meeting with PM after he wrote to him.
However Chacko evaded the questions on taking action against the retired auditor, who deposed wrongly before the Committee on Monday. Singh’s presence was sought by Congress MP Manish Tewari, citing some media reports that the retired official had objected to the loss factor.
Incidentally, Singh was the first representative of CAG, who testified the report before the PAC and JPC. During Monday’s deposition, Singh said he did not differ with the CAG report and stand by it. But curiously the retired official also said that he did not believe in presumptive losses and his initial assessment of Rs.2645 crore loss was also right.
According to some MPs, to the questions on why CAG did not audit pre-Raja allotment of licenses and spectrum, Rai, said that “DoT never submitted any files to them, though we repeatedly asked.” During Raja’s tenure DoT always told the CAG to “go and get documents from CBI.”
In the meeting, it is learned, that Opposition members questioned Chairman PC Chacko’s style of “selective media briefing” and blamed him for providing wrong facts on retired official RP Singh’s deposition. On his part, Chacko shifted the blame to media for “misquoting” him, said sources.
Trashing Congress theory of zero loss in 2G scam, CAG Vinod Rai has staunchly defended the Auditor’s figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore loss in spectrum allocation. Deposing before JPC on Tuesday, he explained to the parliamentarians on how the auditors finalised the huge loss figure by “thorough examining” of findings of different auditors and units whose assessment pegged the loss between Rs 2,645 crore to Rs 4.19 lakh crore.
Rai’s deposition exposed the Congress MPs and certain affected corporates, who were questioning the CAG final loss figure by referring to the initial assessment of a retired r auditor. Rai said that former Director General RP Singh, who appeared before the JPC on Monday, first pegged the loss to a paltry `2,645 crore way back in May 2010, and himself revised it to `1.02 lakh crore after the high-value 3G auction.
The figure of `1.76 lakh was arrived by the CAG adding this final figure (`1.02 lakh crore) with the loss from controversial allotment of dual policy to Reliance Communication and Tata Teleservices and the allotment of additional spectrum to the existing operators by former Telecom Minister A Raja at old rates, explained CAG to the MPs.
Later addressing media, after the five-hour long deposition of CAG, JPC chairman PC Chacko said that Rai’s deposition would continue on November 22. Terming the interaction with Rai as “rigorous and cordial”, Chacko said that “CAG informed that no officials was over-ruled in the spectrum audit, though he had done so in some other audits.”
Responding to questions from Congress MPs that the CAG’s huge loss figure had “tarnished the image of the country” CAG responded that “we have to conduct our audit,” Chacko said.
CAG told the MPs that he wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he felt some gap of communication happened in the press conference in which PM blamed the auditing organization for holding media briefings. But he told the MPs’ that he can’t divulge what transpired in his July 7 meeting with PM after he wrote to him.
However Chacko evaded the questions on taking action against the retired auditor, who deposed wrongly before the Committee on Monday. Singh’s presence was sought by Congress MP Manish Tewari, citing some media reports that the retired official had objected to the loss factor.
Incidentally, Singh was the first representative of CAG, who testified the report before the PAC and JPC. During Monday’s deposition, Singh said he did not differ with the CAG report and stand by it. But curiously the retired official also said that he did not believe in presumptive losses and his initial assessment of Rs.2645 crore loss was also right.
According to some MPs, to the questions on why CAG did not audit pre-Raja allotment of licenses and spectrum, Rai, said that “DoT never submitted any files to them, though we repeatedly asked.” During Raja’s tenure DoT always told the CAG to “go and get documents from CBI.”
In the meeting, it is learned, that Opposition members questioned Chairman PC Chacko’s style of “selective media briefing” and blamed him for providing wrong facts on retired official RP Singh’s deposition. On his part, Chacko shifted the blame to media for “misquoting” him, said sources.
