Lok Sabha Question No. 3600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-21
Subject: Leakage of Confidential Documents
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: E. AHAMED, RAM TAHAL CHOUDHARY, CHANDRAKANT BHAURAO KHAIRE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3600 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2015

## LEAKAGE OF CONFIDENDIAL DOCUMENTS

3600:   SHRI  E. AHAMED:

SHRI RAM TAHAL  CHOUDHARY:

SHRI CHANDRAKANT KHAIRE:

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Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that an episode of spying and theft and leakage of confidential documents has recently taken place in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether there is a large network of unscrupulous elements and  if so, the mechanism being put in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents;
- (c)  whether    the  Government  has  noticed  any  case  of  financial  irregularities  committed  in  the  public  sector undertakings of oil and natural gas, if so, the details thereof along with number of such cases reported during the last three years; and
- (d) the action taken by the Government so far against the persons found involved in such irregularities?

A N S W E R

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## MINISTER OF STATE( I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## [ SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN ]

(a)& (b): On 18.02.2015, a case of theft of official documents from the Ministry was reported by Crime Branch, Delhi  Police,  investigating  agency  in  the  case.    The  agency  filed  a  charge  sheet  in  the  Court  of  Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Patiala House on 17.04.20015 against 13 persons including two government officials of  this  Ministry  namely  Shri  Asha  Ram,  MTS  and  Shri  Ishwar  Singh,  MTS,  Both  the  officials  were  placed under suspension immediately.    The matter is subjudice.

The Ministry has taken a number of steps for safety of official documents which are as under:

- (a) Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  was  requested  to  conduct  a  security  audit  of  the  Ministry  to  ascertain  the loopholes and give recommendations.
- (b) CCTVs have been installed in sensitive locations.
- (c) Recommendations for issuance of entry passes were   restricted.
- (d) Conducted a workshop with the help of intelligence Bureau to sensitize the officials on Departmental Security including Cyber Security.
- (e) Joint Secretary(Admn) has been notified as the Departmental Security officer.

( c)&(d) Vigilance mechanism has been put in place by Government in Oil PSUs to examine and take action in vigilance cases including financial irregularities.  Administrative wings of Oil PSUs also take appropriate action in cases of financial irregularities as per Government instructions.

For Board level officers, Government takes appropriate action, in vigilance cases including cases of financial irregularities,  in  consultation  with  CVC,  as  per  prescribed  procedure  and  norms.    For  Officers  below  Board level, competent authority in Oil PSUs takes appropriate action as per prescribed procedure.

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