PAC divided over 2G probe: Reports

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) investigating the 2G spectrum scandal led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi is divided over when to finalise its report, media reports said on Friday.

While one side, including Joshi, are in favour of wrapping the probe up before its one-year-term ends on Apr 30, the other group, supposedly of the Congress party members and allies, is opposed to the idea since it might rock the monsoon session of the Parliament.

The PAC is investigating the massive 2G spectrum scam, where telecoms licenses and spectrum were allegedly distributed arbitrarily in lieu of kickbacks by a minister in the Congress-led coalition government at the Centre.

The swindle, supposedly masterminded by ex-telecoms minister A Raja of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), cost Rs. 1.76 lakh crore in lost revenue according to the government?s auditor and rattled government and business establishments.

According to reports, the Congress members on board the PAC do not want a report filed before Apr 30 since an adverse report, which is likely since Joshi is a member of its opposition, could make things difficult for them in the monsoon session.

The monsoon session of the Parliament, which generally begins in July, is already expected to decide over a tough anti-graft law, the Jan Lokpal Bill, which is being drafted by a joint committee of ministers and civil society representatives.