Prithviraj meets Sonia, Pranab; talks Antrix-Devas deal
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and is understood to have apprised them about the controversial Antrix-Devas deal.
February 16, 2011 / 08:36 IST
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and is understood to have apprised them about the controversial Antrix-Devas deal.
Chavan, who was Minister of State in the PMO and Member, Space Commission, when ISRO''s commercial arm Antrix had signed the deal with private firm Devas Multimedia, is understood to have told Gandhi and Mukherjee that there was no loss to the exchequer as no spectrum allocations were made in the case.
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He is believed to have told the two leaders that the Space Commission had recommended cancellation of the deal within 90 minutes of it being brought to its notice.
The deal for lease of 90% transponders on two satellites -- GSAT 6 and GSAT 6A -- was referred to the Space Commission on July 2, 2010. The Commission immediately recommended that the deal be scrapped as it felt it was a "bad decision and a bad contract".
The Board of Antrix Corporation had approved the deal in December 2004 and signed it on January 28, 2005.
The Opposition has been targetting the government on the Devas deal. Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
