ISRO declines to disclose probe report on Antrix-Devas deal

New Delhi: India’s premier space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has declined to make public the report by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appointed high-level committee, which went into alleged irregularities in the controversial S-Band spectrum deal between Devas Multimedia and its commercial arm Antrix Corporation.

While hearing an appeal filed under the Right to Information Act, the ISRO said the disclosure of information would impede the process of investigation and declined to give copies of the report. The Prime Minister had on 31 May 2011   constituted a five-member high-level team (HLT) under the chairmanship of former Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha to examine various aspects of the controversial agreement between Antrix Pvt Ltd and Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd.

The HLT, which was formed following the findings of a another two-member High Powered Review Committee (HPRC) constituted by the PMO on 10 February 2011, was also asked to identify the acts of “omission and  commission” by government officials in signing the deal.

Replying to an RTI query, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the space agency has said, “Since the investigations/proceedings based on the reports of the committees are still in progress as such the information sought is exempted from disclosure under Section 8 (1) (h) of the RTI Act.” The section bars disclosure of “information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders”.

Following an appeal by the applicant, the First Appellate Authority of the ISRO upheld the decision of the CPIO and declined to provide the copies of both the reports. Both the HLT and HPRC have completed their work and submitted their reports.

As per the deal, Antrix was to provide the crucial S-Band wavelength, primarily kept for strategic interests of the country, to Devas for running its digital multimedia service by leasing 90 percent transponders on two satellites — GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A.

The company had to pay Antrix a total of USD 300 million (about Rs 1,500 crore) over a period of 12 years. In December 2009, ISRO ordered a review of the deal and, subsequently, the Space Commission recommended its annulment on 2 July 2010.

PTI