Was SECI Chief Dismissed for Allowing Reliance Power to Bid with Fraudulent Documents?

New Delhi, May 13 (NationPress) The unexpected termination of RP Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), is attributed to significant irregularities involving Anil Ambani's Reliance Power, according to various sources knowledgeable about the situation.

Gupta, a retired IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, was removed from his role immediately, as indicated by an official notification.

Although the government has not publicly disclosed any reasons for this action, insiders within the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) have noted that the dismissal is linked to allegations of procedural lapses under Gupta's oversight — particularly concerning the endorsement of Reliance Power’s involvement in a critical tender with forged documents.

Last October, it came to light that Reliance Power had submitted bank guarantees claiming the State Bank of India (SBI) as a guarantor for a SECI tender. However, SBI subsequently denied issuing such guarantees and flagged the email address utilized by Reliance Power as fraudulent.

Despite these alarming indicators, the company was initially permitted to take part in the bidding process, raising serious concerns about the oversight at SECI.

Following SBI’s denial, SECI had to cancel the tender and prevent Reliance Power from future bids — a rare and substantial rebuke in the typically discreet realm of energy contracting. Insiders indicate that Gupta’s role in allowing the company's bid, despite evident documentation problems, was the decisive factor leading to his removal.

Gupta had been leading SECI since June 2023, with his term originally scheduled to conclude next month. His tenure coincided with growing criticism regarding SECI’s management of renewable energy auctions and project backlogs.

Reportedly, nearly 40 gigawatts (GW) of green energy projects tendered by the four designated Renewable Energy Implementation Agencies (REIAs), including SECI, have failed to secure buyers, intensifying scrutiny of the agency.

In recent months, SECI has also faced backlash over controversies associated with major sector players like JSW Energy and Adani, leading to accusations of insufficient due diligence in the bidding process.

A senior MNRE official, who requested anonymity, stated: “The fake guarantee issue was not merely an oversight — it was a total collapse of the checks and balances that should be standard at SECI. The government could not afford to overlook it, especially regarding a high-profile entity like Reliance Power.”

Requests for comments directed to SECI, MNRE, and Reliance Power went unanswered at the time of publication.

As the government persists in pursuing its ambitious renewable energy objectives, the ramifications of Gupta’s termination are anticipated to resonate throughout the sector, with demands for enhanced scrutiny and institutional accountability becoming increasingly pronounced.