Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday put off its verdict, until the court looking into the licence renewal of Space Time Network (STN) give its decision.

The parliamentary panel however, agreed to delve into financial aspect while laying off its judgment on the overall issue. This is the second day the PAC abstained from reaching any decision. The committee on Tuesday, agreed to look into Patan Appellate Court’s ruling on the case, prior to reaching a conclusion.

The panel in a decision reached on April 29, directed the council of ministers, ministry of information and communications and Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to take “necessary” legal action against parties involved in irregularities.

Jamim Shah, managing director of the STN appearing before the PAC on April 11 presented a recorded conversation where acting secretary to the ministry of information and communications Prabhakar Adhikari was asking for financial favours.

Adhikari during the telephonic conversation with Shah has asked for “breakfast” indicating Rs 770,000 for pushing ahead the network’s file, and saving the said amount from the scrutiny of Office of Auditor’s General.

Though Adhikari, appearing before the panel on April 22, owned up his taped voice he however, claimed the recorded conversation was “tampered”. It was a series of conversations put together, he said. The acting secretary also denied that he had asked for financial favours, and said he did not remember when the conversation took place. He also told the panel: “Journalists had taken efforts to blackmail me a number of times.”

Information and communications minister Jayprakash Prasad Gupta assured the PAC that he would initiate action against the official, as and when directed by the panel.