CAG delaying report on DeMo: Ex-bureaucrats

New Delhi, November 13

Sixty retired bureaucrats have written to the CAG expressing concern over audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale deal being “deliberately” delayed to not “embarrass” the NDA government till next year's general elections.

In a letter, they said there was concern over “unconscionable” and “unwarranted delay” in bringing out the audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale fighter jet deal, and the reports should be tabled before Parliament in the winter session. 

The CAG’s failure to present the audit reports on note ban and the Rafale deal in time “may be seen as a partisan action” and could create a “crisis of credibility” for the institution, the letter said.

Sources in the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said the report on the Rafale deal was expected by December. Quoting from media reports on demonetisation, the former bureaucrats said then CAG Shashi Kant Sharma had pointed out that the audit would cover the expenditure on printing of notes, RBI's dividend to the Consolidated Fund of India and the huge amount of data generated by banks.

They also said it was also stated that the effectiveness of the follow-up action taken by the Income Tax Department in identifying potential tax evaders and pursuing action against them, among others, would also be covered. 

“It is more than 20 months since the previous CAG made the above statement but there is no sight of the promised audit report on demonetisation,” the letter said.

The signatories of the letter included ex-DGP of Punjab Julio Riberio, former IAS officer turned social activist Aruna Roy, former Pune Police commissioner Meeran Borwankar, former CEO of Prasar Bharti Jawahar Sircar, former envoy to Italy K P Fabian,  and officers from Central and all India services. 

The letter claimed that there were reports that the audit of the Rafale deal would be done as late as September this year, but the related files were yet to be scrutinised by the CAG.  The ex-bureaucrats said the CAG’s audit reports on the 2G, Coal, Adarsh, Commonwealth Games scams had influenced public perception of the then UPA government's actions and had invited appreciation from various quarters. 

“But an impression is gaining ground that the CAG is deliberately delaying its audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale deal till after the May 2019 elections so as not to embarrass the present government,” it said.  — PTI

‘Saving Govt of embarrassment ’

An impression is gaining ground that the CAG is deliberately delaying its audit reports on demonetisation and the Rafale deal till after the May 2019 elections so as not to embarrass the present government. —Letter by 60 ex-bureaucrats

‘Ban higher-value notes to curb graft’

If corruption is to be curbed, then notes of higher denominations such as Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 should be withdrawn from circulation… What was the use of demonetisation, if all the money came back to the RBI? —Om Prakash Rajbhar, up minister