DoT seeks CAG audit into telcos revenue

The department of telecom (DoT) has sought the Comptroller and Auditor General audit of telecom firms for alleged under-reporting of revenues of over Rs 10,800 crore till November 2012 since it thins government coffers.

While responding to a query during the Question Hour, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley informed the Lok Sabha that “we have served notices for claims of Rs 10,826.69 crore to different telecom companies for under-reporting of revenues till November 2012”.

AAP MP Bhagwant Mann wanted to know from the government details of the fudging, mis-appropriation, under-reporting of revenue and money laundering reported during each of the last three years. Jaitley told the House that the telecom companies agreement Article Clause 22.5 provides for special audit. The special audit in detected under-reporting cases is being done by the CAG, the finance minister stated.

The minister, however, said it is not that no action has been taken against the telecom companies but most of them have approached the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal and high courts against the government notices for recovering dues that arose out of miss-declaration of correct revenue figures. The tribunal and courts have stayed the proceedings, he pointed out.