Noted journalist J Gopikrishan, who broke the 2G spectrum scam on December 11, 2008, has been asked to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on March 8, to assist the committee in its investigations.

"I got a letter from the PAC chairman's office asking me if i could appear before the committee on March 8 and speak to the members about the 2G scam. I have sent them a message confirming that I would appear before the committee on the given date," Gopikrishan told rediff.com on Friday.

Other persons whose names are doing rounds in the corridors of power include eminent journalist Vir Sanghvi, formerly with the Hindustan Times and Barkha Dutt of NDTV. Lobbyist Niira Radia is also expected to appear before the PAC.

When contacted, Pankaj Upadhyay, who looks after Radia's appointments in Delhi, said that he has heard about the rumours. "Journalists have been calling me up to know if we have received any communication to appear before PAC. We have not got any communication from the office of the chairman of PAC, till Friday afternoon," he said.

Sources confirmed that both Barkha Dutt and Vir Sangvi have been asked to appear before the PAC on March 10.

Barkha Dutt could not be contacted for a response as she was in Libya. There was no response from Vir Sanghvi.