PK Borthakur given all clear by anti-graft watchdog
PK Borthakur, ONGC’s executive director in charge of the Mumbai High, must be feeling vindicated.
PETROWATCH learns the anti-corruption Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) watchdog last month cleared his appointment as director offshore, dismissing allegations from an anonymous accuser that he fiddled his expenses. Borthakur’s file, we hear, is with oil secretary Girish Chaturvedi, before heading to oil minister Jaipal Reddy.
From Reddy it will begin its “three to four week” journey to the PM-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. “Borthakur’s appointment should be announced in October or early November,” we hear.
“He’s happy his name has been cleared but upset by the delay.” Another ONGC insider tells us Borthakur, widely respected for his technical knowledge, was tempted to withdrew his candidature in disgust.
“He should have taken up his new job in May if the CVC had ignored these allegations,” we hear. “All this dirt was raked up after his selection.
” Born on February 1, 1954, Borthakur retires on January 31, 2014, aged 60. “He won’t have time to implement his ideas on how to increase Mumbai High production,” says a supporter.
“Whose loss is this The PESB selected Borthakur in March to replace ONGC chairman Sudhir Vasudeva, now chairman. K.
Satyanarayana isn’t so lucky. ONGC’s incoming director onshore must wait longer before he’s formally appointed to replace AK Hazarika.
Satyanarayana’s file, we hear, “is with Reddy and going back and forth to the ACC.” He was supposed to start his new job on October 1, but is still dogged by a ‘money-for-jobs’ scam he fiercely denies.
His formal approval is expected on October 20, we hear.