Former Director General of Comptroller and Auditor General R P Singh has questioned the CAG's estimates of presumptive loss of 1.76 lakh crore rupees to the exchequer on account of allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008.

Speaking to a private news channel, Mr Singh said after completing the audit of Ministry of Telecom, which was under his direct charge, he prepared a draft audit report covering each and every aspect. Mr Singh said his report did not contain any loss figure. Mr Singh said that his report mentioned that Rs 37,000 crore can be recovered from those holding excess spectrum.

The CAG report, which was tabled in Parliament in November 2010, had pegged the revenue loss to the exchequer on account of allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008 at 1.76 lakh crore rupees raising a political storm . It led to sacking of Telecommunications Minister A Raja and setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the issue.

The controversy over 2G spectrum allocation also led to cancellation to 122 licences by the Supreme Court. Our correspondent reports, the issue took a different turn when the recently concluded auction of 2G spectrum evoked lukewarm response.

Several central ministers including Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal had described the CAG's loss estimate of 1.76 lakh crore rupees as mythical.

Meanwhile Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily has said it is for the CAG to see that it is above all controversies and suspicions. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Moily said anything contrary committed by the Constitutional body reflects ultimately on its integrity and functioning.

Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar said the former CAG Officer R P Singh had estimated the original losses of 2G spectrum allocation as he had worked with the Government Auditor.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari today said that issues raised by former CAG Officer Mr. Singh should be probed. Mr Tewari questioned the presumptive losses of 1.76 lakh crore rupees which was initially estimated at about 2,600 crore rupees.

NCP leader D P Tripathi said it is unfortunate that Constitutional bodies are being dragged into controversies. He said as claimed by the government, the losses in 2G spectrum were overestimated and were not based on facts.

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said it appears there is an attempt on the part of the government to malign watchdogs who highlighted misdeeds and corrupt practices and thereby get themselves exonerated.