CBI lens on graft cases in MTNL, BSNL, DoT

The Central Vigilance Commission has referred three major cases involving officials of MTNL, BSNL and Department of Telecom to the CBI for criminal investigations. The three cases together have cost MTNL and BSNL loss of several hundred crores, according to CVC's initial estimates. CVC has referred to the CBI irregularities in issuance of International Long Distance (ILD) licence by Department of Telecom to a company promoted by a Hong Kong based entity. CVC has asked the CBI to also look at irregularities in sanction of credit limits by Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank to the same company. The CVC has estimated a total loss of Rs 543.03 crore to various departments because of the contract. CVC's own inquiry into the ILD licence contract showed that it was awarded within 10 days of application and the MoU between the company and BSNL regarding interconnection was signed without finalizing commercial terms. The inquiry also found that the company violated agreement terms by undertaking commercial calls during the testing period and was continuously defaulting. The CVC said due to "relaxation and negligence on the part of officials", BSNL suffered a loss of Rs 219.62 crore. Moreover, the CVC also found that the Department of Telecom and MTNL suffered loss of Rs 15.63 crore and Rs 8.60 crore. The CVC found that the grant of facilities by banks showed that Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank "neither exercised due diligence nor followed prescribed procedures".
The CVC has also called in the CBI to investigate the purchase of 401,000 WLL CDMA integrated FWTs (Fixed Wireless Terminals) by BSNL. A CVC inquiry found that the high value purchase, of Rs 104 crore, was made from a firm "by extending undue favour violating guidelines of BSNL." Suspecting a criminal conspiracy, the CBI has been asked to investigate the case. The third case handed over to CBI for criminal investigation by the CVC to investigate acts of "commission and omission" and "criminal conspiracy on the part of BSNL officials" in awarding the marketing and advertisement contracts of BSNL. The CVC's inquiry found credibility in the case forwarded by Department of Telecom on the issue. The CVC has found irregularities in the appointment of a part-time non-official director for dealing with the contract, though BSNL already had six full time directors. The state telecom firm awarded the contract for advertisement jobs in electronic media to a non-empanelled agency and also irregularly carried out empanelment of outdoor media agencies, the CVC inquiry found. The CVC found that there were "acts of commission and omission in support of the allegations of criminal conspiracy on the part of BSNL officials" in awarded marketing/advertisement contracts.