Delhi HC Orders BSNL To Initiate Investigation Related To The Awarding Of Tender To China’s ZTE

The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered BSNL to initiate department investigation related to the alleging of a criminal conspiracy between BSNL and ZTE officials, for which the CBI found no evidence.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad ordered Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to take departmental action against its officers for causing the State-run telco financial loss in relation to the tender awarded to Chinese tech company ZTE Telecom Limited.
The court ordered the direction while disposing of a PIL filed by an NGO called Telecom Watchdog.
According to the PIL, there was a criminal conspiracy between some BSNL officials and ZTE. It was stated that despite the fact that a complaint was filed with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in March 2016, the agency did not file an FIR and only conducted a preliminary investigation (PE).
The CBI filed three status updates and issued notices in the PIL in January 2017 claiming that it had opened a PE and that it had been closed because there was insufficient information to continue.
It was alleged that money raised through Trimax was routed to pay the BSNL officials, but the CBI did not find any evidence for the same.
The Bench, after reviewing the case remarked that the CBI’s probe was completed and no further instructions are needed for the agency. However, the Court ordered BSNL to initiate departmental action, as suggested by the CBI.
The Court clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of allegations on the officers.
“This Court, however, directs the BSNL to initiate departmental action, as suggested by the CBI, against its officers. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the imputations of allegations on the officers of BSNL. Any action initiated by the BSNL be taken to its logical conclusion on its own merits,” the order reads.