AG lists 3 options on Bharti outstanding dues

Our eFE Bureau

New Delhi, Aug 31: The Attorney General (AG) has thrown the controversial issue of Bharti’s outstanding dues of Rs 515 crore right back to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

Communications minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday said that the AG has listed three options which could be exercised by the DoT — the dues could be waived, they could be fully recovered in cash or they could be paid partly in cash and partly through bank guarantees. Declining to give his inclinations for either option, he said that the government would ensure that there were no charges of discrimination or criticism of the course taken by the government.
“We will also seek the Cabinet’s approval for whatever action we finalise shortly,” he said. The dues on Bharti’s books, with a principal amount of Rs 258 crore and accumulated interest of Rs 257 crore, are on account of Evergrowth.