Those who subverted system will be punished: Dharmendra Pradhan

The oil minister says his ministry ascertaining whether standard operating procedures for handling confidential information was violated

Against the backdrop of leakage of documents from his ministry, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday asserted all those who had subverted the system would be punished.

He said the ministry was ascertaining whether standard operating procedures (SOPs) for handling confidential information were violated.

“Our house had been burgled. We approached the competent authority for investigation,” Pradhan said.

Adding, “One thing is clear, this government will not allow anybody to subvert the system. This government is determined to punish those who break law.”

His comments came as the probe by Delhi Police continued to expand with 12 people, including five executives of private companies, being arrested and raids at various places. Those arrested include two staffers of the ministry.

According to the police, some of the accused used fake ID cards to get access to Shastri Bhawan, the building that houses the ministry, to get hold of confidential documents and allegedly sold these to purported agents of certain companies.

The arrested executives belong to Reliance Industries, Essar Group and Cairn.

“Nobody is above law. Nobody will be spared. Law will take its own course,” Pradhan said.

Asked if there were indications of involvement of senior officials, including those at the level of joint secretary, he said, “All this is speculation. I do not have any information... let the probe be completed.”

Keys to as many as seven rooms, including that of special secretary, two joint secretaries and some directors dealing with sensitives issues like exploration policy, petroleum pricing and gas pricing, were duplicated.

Locks of all rooms in the ministry have been changed and it is now strictly adhering to the SOP of handing critical information.

“Any secret file or document has to be hand-delivered or sent in a sealed envelop,” Petroleum Secretary Saurabh Chandra explained.

The police had on Sunday told a Delhi court that “national interest was taken for a ride” and talked about the possibility of invoking the Official Secrets Act.