New Delhi— The sudden dismissal of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) Chairman and Managing Director R.P. Gupta was prompted by serious procedural violations involving Anil Ambani’s Reliance Power, according to multiple government sources.
Gupta, a retired IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, was removed from his post with immediate effect, as confirmed by an official order. While the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has not released a public explanation, officials familiar with the matter say Gupta approved Reliance Power’s participation in a major SECI tender despite the submission of forged documents.
The controversy centers on an October incident in which Reliance Power submitted bank guarantees claiming backing from the State Bank of India (SBI). However, SBI denied issuing the guarantees and flagged the email address used in the submission as fraudulent.
Despite these red flags, Reliance Power was initially allowed to proceed with its bid—an oversight that raised alarms about SECI’s internal vetting processes. After SBI disavowed the documents, SECI was forced to cancel the tender and ban Reliance Power from future bids, marking a rare public rebuke in the energy sector.
Sources say Gupta’s decision to allow the company’s participation despite obvious irregularities was the key factor in his removal.
Appointed to SECI in June 2023, Gupta was due to complete his term next month. His tenure coincided with mounting criticism of SECI’s handling of renewable energy auctions and delays in project execution. Reports suggest nearly 40 gigawatts (GW) of renewable projects tendered by the nation’s four Renewable Energy Implementation Agencies—including SECI—have failed to secure buyers.
In recent months, SECI has also faced scrutiny over disputes involving major players such as JSW Energy and Adani, fueling concerns over lax due diligence in the bidding process.
A senior MNRE official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The fake guarantee issue was not a minor slip-up—it was a systemic failure of oversight. When a high-profile company like Reliance Power is involved, the stakes are too high to ignore.”
Requests for comment from SECI, MNRE, and Reliance Power went unanswered.
As the government pushes forward with its renewable energy agenda, Gupta’s removal is expected to have ripple effects across the sector, intensifying demands for stricter oversight and institutional reform. (Source: IANS)
