Question : Leakage of Confidential Documents

(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?

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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