Government to conduct special audit of telcos: Ravi Shankar Prasad

The government will conduct special audit of telecom companies for three subsequent financial years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11, parliament was informed on Friday.

"Government has decided to conduct Special Audit for three subsequent financial years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. The process is under way," Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The government will conduct special audit for telecom firms including, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications and Idea Cellular.

"The government conducted the special audit of five major telecom companies in 2009 for financial year 2006-07 and 2007-08. On the basis of this special audit demands for Rs.1,846.51 crore were issued," the minister said.