BSNL for attaching defaulter's assets

In a bid to clear the air over allegations that it did not take adequate steps to recover dues from the now-defunct Data Access, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has ordered its field units to submit detailed reports on the issue "to fix responsibility wherever lapses had taken place".

The PSU has also lodged a claim for attachment of the assets and bank accounts of Data Access and asked its local offices to issue summons to Siddharth Ray (who was recently arrested by the Chennai police) in all cases he has been named as an accused.

Besides, BSNL has ordered its units to "vigorously follow up" on the 27 criminal cases it had filed against the management of Data Access.

According to sources, the BSNL, in its reply to the government, has stated that it had acted in the best interests of the company for the recovery of the dues and its decisions were devoid of any ulterior motive.

Siddharth Ray-promoted Data Access has liabilities of over Rs 500 crore, including dues of over Rs 200 crore to BSNL.

On the controversial issue of having accepted post-dated cheques from Data Access in July 2004, which later bounced, the PSU has informed the department of telecommunications (DoT) that it took recourse to such a move only after all other channels were exhausted.

The PSU also clarified that as soon as it was found out notice that the cheques were getting dishonoured, all points of interconnect (POI) were disconnected and the available bank guarantees amounting to Rs 50.09 crore were encashed, the sources said.

The government has also charged BSNL with not filing recovery suits. However, the PSU cited legal advice, which said this course of action could be stayed as one of Data Access's creditors had filed a winding-up petition in the Delhi High Court.

The BSNL admitted that in some circles the inadequacy of its CDR-based billing system had led to delays in the collection of the dues, adding that no malafide intention must be attached to this fact.