Ex-CAG Vinod Rai tenders unconditional apology to Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam in defamation case

The case was filed by Sanjay Nirupam against Vinod Rai over a claim he made during a 2014 interview that he was pressured by Nirupam and other MPs to keep former PM Manmohan Singh out of the 2G spectrum report.

Written by Anand Mohan J

New Delhi | Updated: October 29, 2021 11:48 AM IST

2 min read

Rai had accused the former PM of failing to prevent the controversial 2G spectrum licence allocation despite some of the ministers expressing concern about the process. (File photo)

Former Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Vinod Rai has tendered an unconditional apology to Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam who had filed a defamation case against him for his remarks in 2014 that the latter had asked him to drop former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s name from 2G spectrum report.

Rai tendered the apology in an affidavit submitted to Metropolitan Magistrate Manu Shree in which he stated that the comments he had made against Nirupam are “factually incorrect.” The court has now disposed of the case following the apology.

“I have realised that, in answer to questions posed to me by the interviewers, I had inadvertently and wrongly mentioned the name of Shri Sanjay Nirupam as one of the MPs who pressurised me to keep the then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s name out of the CAG report on 2-G spectrum allocation during the meetings in the PAC or the sidelines of the JPC etc,” Rai’s affidavit read.

Rai submitted, “I understand the pain and agony my statements have caused to Sanjay Nirupam, his family and well wishers and thus would like to offer my unconditional apology for the hurt caused by such statements.”

Rai had in an interview to Times Now, which was subsequently published in two newspapers, accused the former PM of failing to prevent the controversial 2G spectrum licence allocation despite some of the ministers expressing concern about the process and despite having been informed by the then telecom minister A Raja about what he planned to do.

He claimed that some Congress MPs had told him to “keep the prime minister (Manmohan Singh) out of this (audit reports)” on the 2G spectrum licence allocation.

Rai made these allegations in a few other publications too ahead of the launch of his 2014 book ‘Not Just an Accountant: The Diary of the Nation’s Conscience Keeper‘.

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Sanjay Nirupam tweeted after the apology from Rai: “Finally former CAG Vinod Rai tendered an unconditional apology to me in a defamation case filed by me…He must apologize to the nation now for all his forged reports about 2G and Coal block allocations done by the UPA Govt.”

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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Manmohan Singh Sanjay Nirupam Vinod Rai