Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to take up AgustaWestland case

The panel, meanwhile, is also likely to continue its inquiry into some aspects of the 2G scam, the Commonwealth Games scam and the issue of burgeoning NPAs of Public Sector Banks, which were looked into by the last PAC, whose term ended on April 30.

The CAG findings were widely referred to when the issue was discussed in Parliament this week with both the ruling and the Opposition benches trying to browbeat each other.

The reconstituted Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC), which has Congress MP K V Thomas at the helm, is likely to take up the AgustaWestland chopper deal that rocked Parliament throughout the week and also led to heated exchanges outside it.

The panel, meanwhile, is also likely to continue its inquiry into some aspects of the 2G scam, the Commonwealth Games scam and the issue of burgeoning Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) of Public Sector Banks, which were looked into by the last PAC, whose term ended on April 30.

A member of the committee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the panel is likely to take up the chopper scam as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had made some adverse comments against it in its report in the past which is already with Parliament. Over the past week, the Congress leadership has been subjected to a lot of heat over the verdict of an Italian court on the alleged scam.

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“A decision on the issues to be taken up by the PAC this time will be finalised in our first meeting likely in a fortnight after the end of the session. We are keen that the AgustaWestland issue is taken up and it will be taken up,” the member said.

When contacted, the Chairman of the PAC K V Thomas, however, remained guarded.

Asked about the possibility of the PAC taking up AgustaWestland issue, Thomas said,”Usually the PAC takes up any issue the CAG has examined after it submits its report in Parliament. Sometimes the PAC takes any issue suo motu as well like the last PAC did in case of NPA,” he said.

Pressed further whether the PAC will take up the AgustaWestland issue, Thomas evaded a direct reply, saying, “All these issues will be decided when the PAC meets.”

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