The Comptroller and Auditor General said that audit of certain activities of the department of space (DoS) were under way but made it clear that media reports on alleged scam in a deal between ISRO and a private firm cannot be concluded as its "findings".
In a statement, the CAG said that its attention has been drawn to reports appearing in media regarding audit being undertaken by Audit and Accounts Department of DoS.
"The news item gives the impression as if our audit has been finalised. This office clarifies that audit of certain activities of DoS is under way.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) suspects a scandal in the allocation of S-band spectrum and is reportedly investigating losses worth Rs 2 lakh crore in the scam. Department of Space and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are under the scanner over the S-band spectrum.
The alleged scam is related to a deal between ISRO's commercial arm Antrix Corp and Devas Multimedia. ISRO is accused of allocating to Devas 70 MegaHertz of scarce S-band spectrum for a 20-year period.
The CAG was alerted because unlike in earlier contracts, ISRO placed no restrictions on Devas Multimedia for onward leasing of spectrum, which means the company could make huge amounts of money by sub-leasing its privileges.
With the S-band scam likely to even dwarf the over Rs 1.76 lakh crore 2G spectrum scam, the Bharatiya Janata Party has got some more ammunition to target the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government. The BJP also targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who heads the Department of Space.
"The loss has been estimated to be about Rs 2 lakh crore. Custom made two communication satellite and 10 transponders will be used for commercial purposes. Department of Space comes directly under the Prime Minister. This is just not loss of revenue, this is a rare spectrum, that's a national asset. This agreement should be nullified, with immediate recovery," said BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.
Meanwhile, Devas has issued a statement claiming that the report was incorrect.
"There are factual inaccuracies in the stories reported, and Devas Multimedia has not received any communication, regarding the contract, from ISRO/Antrix or any other government agency. We do not own any spectrum, and the services we provide will be based on satellite transponders leased from ISRO/Antrix, wherein both – the satellite and spectrum – belong to the space research organization. Contrary to reports, the GSAT 6 satellite programme already has approval from the Union Cabinet and Space Commission for its services, and Devas is developing an innovative satellite system. With reputed investors backing the company, Devas has already secured permanent Government approvals and licenses to offer ISP services on its system, for which specific time-bound technical trials were conducted in 2009," Devas said in a statement issued on Monday.
SOURCES : CNN-IBN
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