Centre removes Solar Energy Corp chairman, Cong alleges cover-up in Adani bribery case

New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi has been assigned the additional charge of the post of Chairman and Managing Director of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) till the appointment of a regular incumbent or further orders.

The competent authority has approved the assignment of additional charge of the post of SECI CMD to Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), till the appointment of a regular incumbent or till further orders, whichever is earlier, according to a personnel ministry order.

The appointment follows the termination of services of Rameshwar Prasad Gupta as CMD of SECI on May 10, as per an order of the personnel ministry issued on Saturday.

The order, which came over a month ahead of the completion of Gupta’s tenure, did not cite any reason for the move.

The 1987-batch Gujarat-cadre former IAS officer was appointed to the post for two years on June 13, 2023.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the termination of the services of Gupta with immediate effect, as per an order of the personnel ministry issued on May 10.

Gupta joined as the CMD of SECI on June 15, 2023. Before joining SECI, he worked as Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.

SECI is the leading Navratna central public sector undertaking dedicated to the development and expansion of renewable energy capacity in the country.

Earlier in the day, commenting on the sacking of Gupta, the Congress sought to link it to charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and his associates by US authorities and said the Adani “scam” cannot be covered up.

Congress general secretary incharge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the public sector Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) was indicted on November 20, 2024, by US authorities in the chargesheet against Adani and his close associates.

India