Premier National Defence Academy- 60 years old
Comment: MoD and AHQ should commence proceedings to court martial the Scamster prior to his retirement.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Cash-for-jobs: NDA ex-commandant to be grilled
Premier National Defence Academy- 60 years old
Comment: MoD and AHQ should commence proceedings to court martial the Scamster prior to his retirement.
Corruption of Indian Generals Proved
What are the probable reasons for Senior Officers to embezzle?
1. Greed and selfishness
2. Inculcating and enjoying the Five Star culture and beget VIP status cum treatment (living literally free on the house) during service.
3. Own and buy a palatial house prior to retirement which costs about Rs one crore. (Adarsh Scam is a pointer- few cases have surfaced in Pune and other states too).
4. Lavish Family living styles and compulsion of favouring relatives with monetary aid.
5. Costly education for children. Capitation Fees for Medical and Engineering colleges.
6. Lack of Professionalism which tempts Senior Officers to take bribes from contractors and vendors especially those posted in AHQ and Delhi.
7. Skewed ACR system which encourages sycophancy and corrupt dealings. More corrupt the better the ACR rating and promotion (9 pointer guaranteed).
8. Fake Gallantry awards for promotion purposes.
9. Exploiting the junior officers to collude into corrupt activities.
10. Detection of corruption and embezzlement is difficult in a closed loop military envirnonment. Lack of deterent punishments for senior officers.
11. Peace time fatigue is ideal and provides a fertile ground to breed and plot scams which will enrich them. The Bureaucrats become godfathers of Senior Military Officers for protection.(Military scams like Tatra doing the rounds is a testimony).
12. Management and fudging of Military Grants, Regimental Funds and Canteen profits encourages senior officers to plan bigger maney spinning rackets. (like CSD scam and NDA Scam).
13. Fudging Medical Records for promotions. Quid pro quo arrangements with Medical Authorities is common
14. Physically unfit Officers promoted based only on ACR.
15. Selection and appointment of poor quality leaders in the higher echelons by manipulating postings due to Political and Bureaucratic interference and compulsions is widespread and common.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
CBI finds ‘money trail’ in NDA scam to Lt Gen Jatinder Singh
CBI finds ‘money trail’ in NDA scam, seeks to grill Lt GenRahul Tripathi, Manu Pubby : New Delhi, Wed Jul 11 2012, 21:43 hrs
The CBI has formally sought the Defence Ministry’s permission to question Lt Gen Jatinder Singh in the racket in recruitment of junior employees at the National Defence Academy (NDA), after allegedly establishing a “money trail” connecting him and his brother to the scam.
Lt Gen Singh, who was removed as NDA commandant last week for a “free and fair investigation”, is currently attached to Army Headquarters. The CBI is learnt to have shared details of its investigation into his alleged role with the ministry.
It is the first time that the head of the prestigious academy has come under such a cloud. Bribes of Rs 3-5 lakh were allegedly paid for jobs as C-grade employees at the NDA. The CBI is also looking at the role of other top officials.
The accused who are currently in CBI custody have reportedly confessed their involvement and also alleged that the top management at the Pune-based institution was involved.
Col Singh was the staff officer to Lt Gen Singh at the academy and is the prime accused. Lt Gen Singh’s brother is learnt to work for a leading Indian business house.
“Our analysis is based on the call detail examination of the accused person and their meeting with the suspect,” said a top CBI official.
The agency is also investigating a meeting in Mumbai between Col Singh and the vice-chancellor of a leading university.
Apart from Col Kulbir Singh, the CBI has arrested Col A K Singh, who headed the NDA recruitment board. Raids across the country have yielded Rs 1.71 crore. CBI finds ‘money trail’ in NDA scam
The CBI has formally sought the Defence Ministry’s permission to question Lt Gen Jatinder Singh in the racket in recruitment of junior employees at the National Defence Academy (NDA), after allegedly establishing a “money trail” connecting him and his brother to the scam.
Lt Gen Singh, who was removed as NDA commandant last week for a “free and fair investigation”, is currently attached to Army Headquarters. The CBI is learnt to have shared details of its investigation into his alleged role with the ministry.
It is the first time that the head of the prestigious academy has come under such a cloud. Bribes of Rs 3-5 lakh were allegedly paid for jobs as C-grade employees at the NDA. The CBI is also looking at the role of other top officials.
The accused who are currently in CBI custody have reportedly confessed their involvement and also alleged that the top management at the Pune-based institution was involved.
“Our analysis is based on the call detail examination of the accused person and their meeting with the suspect,” said a top CBI official.
The agency is also investigating a meeting in Mumbai between Col Singh and the vice-chancellor of a leading university.
Apart from Col Kulbir Singh, the CBI has arrested Col A K Singh, who headed the NDA recruitment board. Raids across the country have yielded Rs 1.71 crore. CBI finds ‘money trail’ in NDA scam
Corruption in Military: Falling Standards of Officer Cadre
Corruption in military
The malady requires an effective remedy
by Lt-Gen Harwant Singh (retd)
The Tribune Thursday, July 12, 2012, Chandigarh, India
A TV channel recently showed a sting operation in which a junior commissioned officer is caught on camera handling wads of currency notes allegedly obtained from prospective candidates for various jobs in the military with a colonel-rank officer operating in the background. A maj-general is caught red-handed taking money from a contractor. These two are the more recent incidents of corruption in the Army. One is from down South, near Pune (National Defence Academy), and the other from up North in J and K. Earlier we had the case of Sukna land scam in the East where a few Lt-Generals were involved and were duly court-martialled. The DG, Supply Corps, a Lt-General rank officer, is court-martialled on charges of corruption.
A few from very high echelons of the Army are involved in the Adarsh housing society scam. The Supreme Commander of the armed forces, forsaking the very propriety of the act, reportedly made a desperate attempt to grab the military’s land in Pune. A more recent development is that of the nudging by the Supreme Court to hold court-martial of a number of officers involved in fake encounters at Pathribal in J and K, though the military should have done so on its own. Colonel Purohit is alleged to have been associated with a terrorist group. If all this is not enough, a second incidence of gross indiscipline in a unit at Nyoma in Ladakh leads one to infer that it is not only probity and integrity that are under assault but discipline also is on the wane. Corruption, malfeasance, fake encounters, ill-discipline, etc, from one end of the country to the other and right across the rank structure, give the impression that all is not well with our military.
During the last few decades the composition of manpower intake, both of officer class and the rank and file, has undergone a sea change. The military is simply not able to get suitable material, not only in the officer cadre, but in recruitment of soldiers too. With the opening of the economy and expansion in civil services, a number of lucrative options are on offer for the youth. Those likely to join the military as soldiers find the state and central police forces as a better option. Faced with these constraints, has the military lowered its intake standards?
In the early 1980s, army headquarters ordered a study to review the system of recruitment and selection for entry into the officer cadre. I headed the committee constituted to examine and review the officer selection system. Though the selection process had stood the test of time, military career as such had become least attractive and, as a result of that, a fewer number of suitable candidates had been opting to join the officer cadre. Consequent to this development, there was discernible tinkering with the selection process. Since then there has possibly been further lowering of intake standards!
The officer selection process is based on a triad system of evaluation. In this system three different techniques are applied over a period of four to five days to assess a candidate’s ability. When these three techniques are applied correctly, they are expected to produce the same result, thus reinforcing the selection process three times over. It also eliminates the possibility of fudging the result by an operator of any of the three techniques without being found out. When applied correctly, it is the most comprehensive and authentic selection process devised so far anywhere, in any army. Of late, the DRDO has managed to bring in some changes in the selection process, perhaps for the worse. During the eighties the DRDO, working on the recruitment intake standards, had projected that weight carrying capacity had no bearing on the height of a person and other physical attributes and, as such, the requirement of a minimum height for recruitment be done away with. One was constrained to observe that the Army wanted to recruit soldiers and not coolies.
It may be argued that the military is a mere reflection of society — where corruption is rampant, right across the national spectrum, and is accepted and even respected. When cheating and lack of discipline are all-pervasive, the military could not remain unaffected. After all, the Army draws its manpower from the same stock. Even so in this climate of loot and plunder, malfeasance and state of lawlessness, the military has strived hard to maintain its core value system by creating a sort of rampart of “do’s and don’ts” to isolate it from outside influence.
Of late, this rampart has been under attack, both from outside and within and breaches have appeared, but the military has made brave attempts at repairing this wall of core values. Cases of corruption, misconduct, false encounters and cheating have often manifested from within, cutting right across the rank structure. But the military has been quick to deal firmly with all such aberrations. Though a more recent development, venality threatens to engulf the very top echelons of the Army.
Some may contend that the level of corruption in the military is not even a minuscule of what prevails in the government machinery and civil society, and, therefore, there is no need to worry about it. Military service is quite apart from all other callings and it demands the highest standards in probity, integrity and personal conduct from its officers. Any shortfall in these will render the force ineffective, and national security will stand imperilled.
Even with the lowering of intake standards, the Army continues to remain short of over 12000 officers, thus reinforcing the fact that over time military career has been turned into the least attractive option. The officer cadre has seen an influx of not so suitable leadership material and, as such, the profile of the officer cadre has been undergoing a change for the worse. Though the military does strive to develop leadership skills in its young officers and instil in them an appropriate value system, in many cases it does not succeed.
However, individual aspirations, careerism, personal gain and dilution of leadership traits do sometimes get the better of some individuals, but where failings in character qualities surface, or discipline is lacking, action to correct the fault-lines is both stern and swift. It is essential to detect fault-lines in character at early stages of an officer’s career and apply correctives, which could even be weeding out.
The senior leadership in the military no more insists on setting good and enviable standards of conduct for juniors to follow. A few, at the very top, have faltered and fallen prey to greed. As the higher rank officers climbed into what is called “five star culture”, quite distinct from what fits in the military’s way of life, lower down the ladder some junior rank officers slid down to levels unacceptable for the officer class.
Finally, the officer cadre is the very soul of an army and mainspring of the whole mechanism. Any fall in its standards will surely lead to failures during a war.
Corruption in military
The malady requires an effective remedy
by Lt-Gen Harwant Singh (retd)
The Tribune Thursday, July 12, 2012, Chandigarh, India
A TV channel recently showed a sting operation in which a junior commissioned officer is caught on camera handling wads of currency notes allegedly obtained from prospective candidates for various jobs in the military with a colonel-rank officer operating in the background. A maj-general is caught red-handed taking money from a contractor. These two are the more recent incidents of corruption in the Army. One is from down South, near Pune (National Defence Academy), and the other from up North in J and K. Earlier we had the case of Sukna land scam in the East where a few Lt-Generals were involved and were duly court-martialled. The DG, Supply Corps, a Lt-General rank officer, is court-martialled on charges of corruption.
A few from very high echelons of the Army are involved in the Adarsh housing society scam. The Supreme Commander of the armed forces, forsaking the very propriety of the act, reportedly made a desperate attempt to grab the military’s land in Pune. A more recent development is that of the nudging by the Supreme Court to hold court-martial of a number of officers involved in fake encounters at Pathribal in J and K, though the military should have done so on its own. Colonel Purohit is alleged to have been associated with a terrorist group. If all this is not enough, a second incidence of gross indiscipline in a unit at Nyoma in Ladakh leads one to infer that it is not only probity and integrity that are under assault but discipline also is on the wane. Corruption, malfeasance, fake encounters, ill-discipline, etc, from one end of the country to the other and right across the rank structure, give the impression that all is not well with our military.
During the last few decades the composition of manpower intake, both of officer class and the rank and file, has undergone a sea change. The military is simply not able to get suitable material, not only in the officer cadre, but in recruitment of soldiers too. With the opening of the economy and expansion in civil services, a number of lucrative options are on offer for the youth. Those likely to join the military as soldiers find the state and central police forces as a better option. Faced with these constraints, has the military lowered its intake standards?
In the early 1980s, army headquarters ordered a study to review the system of recruitment and selection for entry into the officer cadre. I headed the committee constituted to examine and review the officer selection system. Though the selection process had stood the test of time, military career as such had become least attractive and, as a result of that, a fewer number of suitable candidates had been opting to join the officer cadre. Consequent to this development, there was discernible tinkering with the selection process. Since then there has possibly been further lowering of intake standards!
The officer selection process is based on a triad system of evaluation. In this system three different techniques are applied over a period of four to five days to assess a candidate’s ability. When these three techniques are applied correctly, they are expected to produce the same result, thus reinforcing the selection process three times over. It also eliminates the possibility of fudging the result by an operator of any of the three techniques without being found out. When applied correctly, it is the most comprehensive and authentic selection process devised so far anywhere, in any army. Of late, the DRDO has managed to bring in some changes in the selection process, perhaps for the worse. During the eighties the DRDO, working on the recruitment intake standards, had projected that weight carrying capacity had no bearing on the height of a person and other physical attributes and, as such, the requirement of a minimum height for recruitment be done away with. One was constrained to observe that the Army wanted to recruit soldiers and not coolies.
It may be argued that the military is a mere reflection of society — where corruption is rampant, right across the national spectrum, and is accepted and even respected. When cheating and lack of discipline are all-pervasive, the military could not remain unaffected. After all, the Army draws its manpower from the same stock. Even so in this climate of loot and plunder, malfeasance and state of lawlessness, the military has strived hard to maintain its core value system by creating a sort of rampart of “do’s and don’ts” to isolate it from outside influence.
Of late, this rampart has been under attack, both from outside and within and breaches have appeared, but the military has made brave attempts at repairing this wall of core values. Cases of corruption, misconduct, false encounters and cheating have often manifested from within, cutting right across the rank structure. But the military has been quick to deal firmly with all such aberrations. Though a more recent development, venality threatens to engulf the very top echelons of the Army.
Some may contend that the level of corruption in the military is not even a minuscule of what prevails in the government machinery and civil society, and, therefore, there is no need to worry about it. Military service is quite apart from all other callings and it demands the highest standards in probity, integrity and personal conduct from its officers. Any shortfall in these will render the force ineffective, and national security will stand imperilled.
Even with the lowering of intake standards, the Army continues to remain short of over 12000 officers, thus reinforcing the fact that over time military career has been turned into the least attractive option. The officer cadre has seen an influx of not so suitable leadership material and, as such, the profile of the officer cadre has been undergoing a change for the worse. Though the military does strive to develop leadership skills in its young officers and instil in them an appropriate value system, in many cases it does not succeed.
However, individual aspirations, careerism, personal gain and dilution of leadership traits do sometimes get the better of some individuals, but where failings in character qualities surface, or discipline is lacking, action to correct the fault-lines is both stern and swift. It is essential to detect fault-lines in character at early stages of an officer’s career and apply correctives, which could even be weeding out.
The senior leadership in the military no more insists on setting good and enviable standards of conduct for juniors to follow. A few, at the very top, have faltered and fallen prey to greed. As the higher rank officers climbed into what is called “five star culture”, quite distinct from what fits in the military’s way of life, lower down the ladder some junior rank officers slid down to levels unacceptable for the officer class.
Finally, the officer cadre is the very soul of an army and mainspring of the whole mechanism. Any fall in its standards will surely lead to failures during a war.
Corruption in military
NDA Recruitment Scam: Army Officers go high tech to spin money
Typing tests also held in Colonel’s office
Wednesday, July 04, 2012 AT 12:32 PM (IST)
PUNE: Col Anil Kumar Singh, presiding officer of exams, allegedly conducted typing tests of some candidates for appointment of civil employees in his office instead of the computer lab in the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted in its report to a special court on Tuesday.
The court has remanded Col Singh to CBI custody till July 7. He was arrested on Monday after his anticipatory bail application was rejected by the court. The CBI told the court that Col Singh was admitted to the state-run YCM Hospital in Pimpri after he complained of high blood pressure on Monday night. So he was interrogated only for two hours on Tuesday morning.
He was produced in the court of special judge (CBI) D R Mahajan in the afternoon for seeking a 14-day custody. "We want to interrogate him to find out why three or four candidates were given the typing test in his office and not in the computer lab. Also, who sent the candidates to him," Deputy Superintendent of Police (CBI) Rajpal Singh told the court.
"We want to recover the list of candidates, which was deleted from the official computer and was taken by Col Singh in his pen drive," he added. His interrogation is required for checking the over-writing in the answersheets of the candidates. Also, the amount of Rs 52 lakh in bribe amount, allegedly given to him by another accused Col Kulbir Singh, is yet to be recovered, Singh said.
CBI special public prosecutor Vivek Saxena told the court, "After taking permission from the Union Home Ministry, we taped their conversation between June 7 and June 18. They used code language during the conversations. We would like to confront Col A K Singh with the recorded conversation and get more details about the job-for-cash scam."
The CBI told the court that it has appealed to the NDA authorities to station a military doctor at the CBI office so that he could conduct a check-up on Col A K Singh for any health-related problems.
NO SATELLITE PHONE
Defence sources told "Sakal Times"that"officially the NDA does not have any satellite phone." The CBI claimed to have recorded about 500 conversations of Col A K Singh and other accused, who used to talk on satellite phones about the collection of bribe money from the aspiring candidates.
Typing tests also held in Colonel’s office
Comment: Criminal minded officers are being posted to the NDA which is a premier training institute. Just imagine a physically unfit Officer is posted as the Physical Training Officer to the Academy. On his arrest he reports sick. The MS needs to be sacked for posting such criminal minded Officers to the NDA and bringing shame to the institute and military at large. There is a case for investigating the MOD and MS if they are taking bribes for lucrative postings to NDA. The ACR nine pointer system is a disaster. All 9 pointers Officers postings need to be thoroughly investigated.
PUNE: Col Anil Kumar Singh, presiding officer of exams, allegedly conducted typing tests of some candidates for appointment of civil employees in his office instead of the computer lab in the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted in its report to a special court on Tuesday.
The court has remanded Col Singh to CBI custody till July 7. He was arrested on Monday after his anticipatory bail application was rejected by the court. The CBI told the court that Col Singh was admitted to the state-run YCM Hospital in Pimpri after he complained of high blood pressure on Monday night. So he was interrogated only for two hours on Tuesday morning.
He was produced in the court of special judge (CBI) D R Mahajan in the afternoon for seeking a 14-day custody. "We want to interrogate him to find out why three or four candidates were given the typing test in his office and not in the computer lab. Also, who sent the candidates to him," Deputy Superintendent of Police (CBI) Rajpal Singh told the court.
"We want to recover the list of candidates, which was deleted from the official computer and was taken by Col Singh in his pen drive," he added. His interrogation is required for checking the over-writing in the answersheets of the candidates. Also, the amount of Rs 52 lakh in bribe amount, allegedly given to him by another accused Col Kulbir Singh, is yet to be recovered, Singh said.
CBI special public prosecutor Vivek Saxena told the court, "After taking permission from the Union Home Ministry, we taped their conversation between June 7 and June 18. They used code language during the conversations. We would like to confront Col A K Singh with the recorded conversation and get more details about the job-for-cash scam."
The CBI told the court that it has appealed to the NDA authorities to station a military doctor at the CBI office so that he could conduct a check-up on Col A K Singh for any health-related problems.
NO SATELLITE PHONE
Defence sources told "Sakal Times"that"officially the NDA does not have any satellite phone." The CBI claimed to have recorded about 500 conversations of Col A K Singh and other accused, who used to talk on satellite phones about the collection of bribe money from the aspiring candidates.
Typing tests also held in Colonel’s office
Comment: Criminal minded officers are being posted to the NDA which is a premier training institute. Just imagine a physically unfit Officer is posted as the Physical Training Officer to the Academy. On his arrest he reports sick. The MS needs to be sacked for posting such criminal minded Officers to the NDA and bringing shame to the institute and military at large. There is a case for investigating the MOD and MS if they are taking bribes for lucrative postings to NDA. The ACR nine pointer system is a disaster. All 9 pointers Officers postings need to be thoroughly investigated.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
P Chidambaram a Billionaire chides the middle class
When you can buy ice cream for Rs 20, why complain about price rise? Chidambaram asks urban middle class
TNN | Jul 11, 2012, 06.55AM IST BANGALORE: Union home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday chided the urban middle class for bemoaning soaring prices of fuel and essential commodities. "There's steady rise in the minimum support price of paddy, wheat and sugarcane , reflected in the prices of commodities. When the urban middle class can buy a bottle of mineral water for Rs 15 and icecream for Rs 20, why do they make so much noise about price rise?" said Chidambaram.
Trying to justify increase in prices, Chidambaram said, "The rise has directly benefited farmers. We raised fuel prices because the global crude prices had gone up. We also gave relief by bringing down the petrol price twice. There needn't be any complaint for price rise when things are on the side of poor farmers."
The home minister was again briefing the media about the UPA's achievements. He said some strategies would strengthen the economy. "The main thrust should be on checking wasteful expenditure, increasing savings and investment in financial instruments rather than gold and higher production of output in fuel, iron ore and coal," he said. There's a need to increase overseas investment in Indian corporations, he added. Chidambaram hoped the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) envisaged by the Centre would get support from non-Congress CMs.
Many state governments have opposed the NCTC because they feel it would infringe on the powers of state governments as a person may be arrested by any officer of this new agency. "The Naresh Chandra Committee report on national security has stressed the need for an agency to tackle militancy and terrorist activities across the country. We'll try to convince state governments on this and bring about a consensus. I hope over time everyone will accept it," he said.
When you can buy ice cream for Rs 20, why complain about price rise? Chidambaram asks urban middle class
Comment: Words from P Chidambaram must be taken with a pinch of salt. He only sees Rupees dangling in front of him. He is an expert in insider trading, FDI, FII, benami and shady investments. He has done little to reduce black money, money laundering and and Secret Swiss Money during his tenure as Finance Minister. Now how come he has become spokesperson for Manmohan Singh? Is he singing tunes for more scams?
TNN | Jul 11, 2012, 06.55AM IST BANGALORE: Union home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday chided the urban middle class for bemoaning soaring prices of fuel and essential commodities. "There's steady rise in the minimum support price of paddy, wheat and sugarcane , reflected in the prices of commodities. When the urban middle class can buy a bottle of mineral water for Rs 15 and icecream for Rs 20, why do they make so much noise about price rise?" said Chidambaram.
Trying to justify increase in prices, Chidambaram said, "The rise has directly benefited farmers. We raised fuel prices because the global crude prices had gone up. We also gave relief by bringing down the petrol price twice. There needn't be any complaint for price rise when things are on the side of poor farmers."
The home minister was again briefing the media about the UPA's achievements. He said some strategies would strengthen the economy. "The main thrust should be on checking wasteful expenditure, increasing savings and investment in financial instruments rather than gold and higher production of output in fuel, iron ore and coal," he said. There's a need to increase overseas investment in Indian corporations, he added. Chidambaram hoped the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) envisaged by the Centre would get support from non-Congress CMs.
Many state governments have opposed the NCTC because they feel it would infringe on the powers of state governments as a person may be arrested by any officer of this new agency. "The Naresh Chandra Committee report on national security has stressed the need for an agency to tackle militancy and terrorist activities across the country. We'll try to convince state governments on this and bring about a consensus. I hope over time everyone will accept it," he said.
When you can buy ice cream for Rs 20, why complain about price rise? Chidambaram asks urban middle class
Comment: Words from P Chidambaram must be taken with a pinch of salt. He only sees Rupees dangling in front of him. He is an expert in insider trading, FDI, FII, benami and shady investments. He has done little to reduce black money, money laundering and and Secret Swiss Money during his tenure as Finance Minister. Now how come he has become spokesperson for Manmohan Singh? Is he singing tunes for more scams?
Adarsh Scam: Truth is Money Laundering but CBI is bent on investigating lies of Politicians
The Hindu July 10, 2012
Even if the Adarsh society case does not end in convictions, enough ignominy has been heaped on former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who was charge sheeted in the scam along with 12 others. Mr. Chavan has been accused of criminal conspiracy and abusing his official position when he was Revenue Minister over a decade ago to include civilians in the society and grant other favours. In turn, his mother-in law and other relatives got flats. There is a feeling in some sections that Mr. Chavan has been unfairly targeted and two other former Chief Ministers, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde, were also responsible. The CBI investigation is still open in the case of these two. While Mumbai is full of such frauds involving valuable land, what sets Adarsh apart is the nexus that was unravelled between politicians, bureaucrats and promoters — most of whom managed to cadge flats for their family members in a building which was blatantly illegal. The CBI is yet to officially reveal the details of the benami flats but there is evidence that this could involve more politicians or people close to them.
In comparison with Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, whose career graph shoots up every time the courts pass strictures against him, Mr. Chavan seems to lack a guardian angel. His cup of woes is full as he is also at the centre of a paid news controversy and his election has been contested on those grounds. If the CBI can prove the charges it has framed in the Adarsh case, it will definitely set a precedent. It is essential that the politicians and officers responsible for violating the laws of the land, abusing their office, and flouting the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification are given exemplary punishment. Real estate and housing equals power in Mumbai and few get caught for the numerous illegal transactions that take place. There is no need to be dismissive about the relatively small size of the scam in rupee terms when compared to other, more massive frauds. What is untenable too is the constant carping that Mr. Chavan is less culpable than the others and that he only grabbed “a few flats.” Instead of blaming the media for targeting bureaucrats and politicians, the State government should launch a comprehensive investigation into fraudulent housing societies, not to speak of the sharp practices that go on throughout Mumbai in the name of slum redevelopment.
Not so Adarsh
Defence Ministry's weak response
Now, Defence Ministry intervenes in Adarsh case
Readers Comments: Are we a Banana Republic?
from: Akshit Singh Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 at 11:27 IST
What you have pointed out in this editorial is the unholy nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in the adarsh controversy. But what you have not pointed out is the role of the senior military officials including former army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor who got a flat for himself in abetting the scam & the need to apprehend them.
from: N.Mohan Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 at 13:05 IST
These politicians own multiple expensive flats in Mumbai. For e.g. Sushil Kumar Shinde owns a flat on (Vaastu Bldg) Pali Hill Bandra Mumbai worth about 30-40 Crore purchased within last 3-4 years. Somebody please investigate. Another minister Kripashankar (Santacruz Mumbai) was recently accused of owning multiple benami flats. Where do they get this kind of money come from?
from: D Mahapatra Posted on: Jul 10, 2012 at 16:12 IST
Will any of this outrage in "public" translate into any action by the voting public? Or is this "moral outrage" just an intellectual pastime of the new Indian, educated, affluent, middle-class? India claims to be a democracy (the biggest lie peddled in India?). So, "the buck stops with the voters" - not with anyone else!!! Will anyone hold up a mirror to themselves, think afresh in their daily lives, do anything differently, educate fellow citizens who may not know what's really going on in the country "in their name, but without informed-consent"???
Even if the Adarsh society case does not end in convictions, enough ignominy has been heaped on former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who was charge sheeted in the scam along with 12 others. Mr. Chavan has been accused of criminal conspiracy and abusing his official position when he was Revenue Minister over a decade ago to include civilians in the society and grant other favours. In turn, his mother-in law and other relatives got flats. There is a feeling in some sections that Mr. Chavan has been unfairly targeted and two other former Chief Ministers, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde, were also responsible. The CBI investigation is still open in the case of these two. While Mumbai is full of such frauds involving valuable land, what sets Adarsh apart is the nexus that was unravelled between politicians, bureaucrats and promoters — most of whom managed to cadge flats for their family members in a building which was blatantly illegal. The CBI is yet to officially reveal the details of the benami flats but there is evidence that this could involve more politicians or people close to them.
In comparison with Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, whose career graph shoots up every time the courts pass strictures against him, Mr. Chavan seems to lack a guardian angel. His cup of woes is full as he is also at the centre of a paid news controversy and his election has been contested on those grounds. If the CBI can prove the charges it has framed in the Adarsh case, it will definitely set a precedent. It is essential that the politicians and officers responsible for violating the laws of the land, abusing their office, and flouting the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification are given exemplary punishment. Real estate and housing equals power in Mumbai and few get caught for the numerous illegal transactions that take place. There is no need to be dismissive about the relatively small size of the scam in rupee terms when compared to other, more massive frauds. What is untenable too is the constant carping that Mr. Chavan is less culpable than the others and that he only grabbed “a few flats.” Instead of blaming the media for targeting bureaucrats and politicians, the State government should launch a comprehensive investigation into fraudulent housing societies, not to speak of the sharp practices that go on throughout Mumbai in the name of slum redevelopment.
Not so Adarsh
Defence Ministry's weak response
Now, Defence Ministry intervenes in Adarsh case
Readers Comments: Are we a Banana Republic?
What you have pointed out in this editorial is the unholy nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in the adarsh controversy. But what you have not pointed out is the role of the senior military officials including former army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor who got a flat for himself in abetting the scam & the need to apprehend them.
These politicians own multiple expensive flats in Mumbai. For e.g. Sushil Kumar Shinde owns a flat on (Vaastu Bldg) Pali Hill Bandra Mumbai worth about 30-40 Crore purchased within last 3-4 years. Somebody please investigate. Another minister Kripashankar (Santacruz Mumbai) was recently accused of owning multiple benami flats. Where do they get this kind of money come from?
Will any of this outrage in "public" translate into any action by the voting public? Or is this "moral outrage" just an intellectual pastime of the new Indian, educated, affluent, middle-class? India claims to be a democracy (the biggest lie peddled in India?). So, "the buck stops with the voters" - not with anyone else!!! Will anyone hold up a mirror to themselves, think afresh in their daily lives, do anything differently, educate fellow citizens who may not know what's really going on in the country "in their name, but without informed-consent"???
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Can Gen Bikram Singh erase the stain of Corruption?
The stain of corruption is fast eroding the reputation of the Armed Forces. In the last one year alone, several senior officers have been embroiled in a slew of corruption cases that have hogged media limelight. The situation is so grim that as many as six officials have either been arrested by the CBI or faced court of inquiry during the last two months.
Even the nursery of Armed Forces, the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, has not remained untouched by this all-pervasive decline in the Armed Forces. Recently, the CBI arrested two Colonels posted at NDA for allegedly accepting money from aspirants for ensuring jobs of cooks and gardeners.
Given the number of cases involving senior officers hitting headlines, former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas wrote a letter to Prime Minister last Friday expressing concern over “continuing fall in ethical standards” in the Armed Forces and sought setting up of a commission to probe the recent controversies surrounding them.
In the letter, the former Navy Chief said the recent controversies have adversely affected the morale of the forces, which could pose a serious threat to the national security.
“With the continuing fall in ethical standards at all levels in the country, including within the Armed Forces, we believe it is our duty and right to call your attention to these developments,” Ramdas said.
Listing out the age row involving former Army Chief General VK Singh, leakage of his ‘top secret’ letter to the Prime Minister, alleged spying in Defence Ministry and corruption in military deals, he said “this situation must be addressed with urgency, because it could pose a serious threat to our national security.” The letter claimed support of retired Lieutenant Generals PC Katoch, OS Lochab, Major General Ashok Kalyan Verma and former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami.
Can Gen Bikram Singh erase the stain of Corruption?
Related Reading
Corruption cases will not be brushed under carpet: Army Chief New Delhi | Friday, Jul 6 2012 IST Enforcement Directorate to attach Adarsh properties- Jul 9, 2012
Even the nursery of Armed Forces, the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, has not remained untouched by this all-pervasive decline in the Armed Forces. Recently, the CBI arrested two Colonels posted at NDA for allegedly accepting money from aspirants for ensuring jobs of cooks and gardeners.
Given the number of cases involving senior officers hitting headlines, former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas wrote a letter to Prime Minister last Friday expressing concern over “continuing fall in ethical standards” in the Armed Forces and sought setting up of a commission to probe the recent controversies surrounding them.
In the letter, the former Navy Chief said the recent controversies have adversely affected the morale of the forces, which could pose a serious threat to the national security.
“With the continuing fall in ethical standards at all levels in the country, including within the Armed Forces, we believe it is our duty and right to call your attention to these developments,” Ramdas said.
Listing out the age row involving former Army Chief General VK Singh, leakage of his ‘top secret’ letter to the Prime Minister, alleged spying in Defence Ministry and corruption in military deals, he said “this situation must be addressed with urgency, because it could pose a serious threat to our national security.” The letter claimed support of retired Lieutenant Generals PC Katoch, OS Lochab, Major General Ashok Kalyan Verma and former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami.
Can Gen Bikram Singh erase the stain of Corruption?
Related Reading
Corruption cases will not be brushed under carpet: Army Chief New Delhi | Friday, Jul 6 2012 IST Enforcement Directorate to attach Adarsh properties- Jul 9, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Who is the Kingpin of CSD(I) Nationwide Corruption Racket?
The Hindu: MUMBAI, July 4, 2012
MUMBAI: Days after the raiding the NDA in Pune, the Central Bureau of Investigation busted a nationwide corruption racket involving officials of the Canteen Stores Department of Defence Ministry and a private company, a CBI official said. While one official, Bikas Ranjan Daschaudhary, Joint-General Manager, CSD Mumbai, was caught red-handed accepting a bribe from officials of the private company, Messrs. Sankalp Consumer Products Pvt Ltd, a director of the same company was arrested in Pune.
Besides the duo, two more were nabbed in Pune.
They will be produced before a CBI Special Court here tomorrow (Sunday) before a holiday magistrate for remand.
Following a complaint, the CBI registered a case against Sankalp, which allegedly functioned as an unauthorized marketing arm and representating several companies, contravening CSD’s policies.
Through one of its directors, Milind Govilkar, Sankalp and CSD officials allegedly conspired to manipulate the requirements of the CSD which benefitted the private compnay’s clients.
Similary, the CSD officials ‘helped’ Sankalp at various levels like introducing the items (required by CSD), price revisions, delayed or excess supplies, creating demands, allocating budgets, etc. In return for these favourable decisions, Sankalp, through Govilkar, paid huge amounts of bribe to the CSD officials, the CBI alleged. For instance, today, Daschaudhary was caught accepting Rs. 1.25 lakhs from Govilkar, at the former’s residence in Napean Sea in south Mumbai.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a serving Brigadier in the city, on charges of involvement in a corruption case for promoting goods of one specific agency to the Ministry of Defence’s Central Stores Department, also known as CSD, CBI sources said here on Tuesday.
In addition, CBI raided 20 places around the country at the official and private residences of the accused and suspect officials and recovered incriminating documents, huge amounts of cash and jewellery. The raids are still continuing. With this, the number of arrests in the scandal has risen to five. CBI sources said the number of arrests is expected to increase, since only one middleman has been arrested so far.
The Central Stores Department’s annual supply is worth around Rs. 10,000 crore, as it serves 20 lakh retired and serving officers of the defence services in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Its head office is located in Mumbai. The officials and middlemen of M/s Sankalp arrested so far have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy and manipulating the demand of various CSD items in favour of the clients of M/s Sankalp.
Giving information on the recent arrest on Tuesday, a CBI press note stated, “Brigadier Shri Anuj Kainthla, Joint General Manager-I, had accepted Rs. 7.5 lakh from M/s. Sankalp, for taking a favourable decision at various stages, such as introduction of items, price revision, and issue of supply orders. During initial investigation, it is revealed that he invested the ill-gotten money in real estate at Panchkula.”
“CSD officials also favoured M/s. Sankalp at various stages, such as introduction of new items, price revision, delayed and excess supply, demand creation, artificial budget allocation, etc. In lieu of favour, M/s. Sankalp, through Shri Milind Govilkar, paid huge illegal gratification to several officials of CSD,” CBI said in its press release.
M/s Sankalp was found to have been flouting norms by acting as a marketing arm of many companies. It is against the policies laid down by CSD.
The Hindu Report
Comment:
Headquartered in Mumbai, with a huge budget, the CSD operates five regional offices, 34 depots and 3825 canteen (stores) all over India to provide consumer goods to the active duty and retired personnel of Army, Navy and Air Force. Besides Daschaudhary and Govilkar (who was nabbed in Pune), CBI has arrested Vilas Harer and Manohar Vibhute. This vast empire is gigantic cauldron of corruption fine tuned by culprits seated in MOD and AHQ. This monster cannot be tamed by a few corruption cases lodged by the CBI. Drastic changes need be made to clean up the rot. The quality of products coming into the CSD for the troops is spurious, substandard and over priced to make huge profits. 50% of of this loot goes to the Government (Consolidated Funds of India) as black marketted booty (in addition to the Flag Day collection).
MUMBAI: Days after the raiding the NDA in Pune, the Central Bureau of Investigation busted a nationwide corruption racket involving officials of the Canteen Stores Department of Defence Ministry and a private company, a CBI official said. While one official, Bikas Ranjan Daschaudhary, Joint-General Manager, CSD Mumbai, was caught red-handed accepting a bribe from officials of the private company, Messrs. Sankalp Consumer Products Pvt Ltd, a director of the same company was arrested in Pune.
Besides the duo, two more were nabbed in Pune.
They will be produced before a CBI Special Court here tomorrow (Sunday) before a holiday magistrate for remand.
Following a complaint, the CBI registered a case against Sankalp, which allegedly functioned as an unauthorized marketing arm and representating several companies, contravening CSD’s policies.
Through one of its directors, Milind Govilkar, Sankalp and CSD officials allegedly conspired to manipulate the requirements of the CSD which benefitted the private compnay’s clients.
Similary, the CSD officials ‘helped’ Sankalp at various levels like introducing the items (required by CSD), price revisions, delayed or excess supplies, creating demands, allocating budgets, etc. In return for these favourable decisions, Sankalp, through Govilkar, paid huge amounts of bribe to the CSD officials, the CBI alleged. For instance, today, Daschaudhary was caught accepting Rs. 1.25 lakhs from Govilkar, at the former’s residence in Napean Sea in south Mumbai.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a serving Brigadier in the city, on charges of involvement in a corruption case for promoting goods of one specific agency to the Ministry of Defence’s Central Stores Department, also known as CSD, CBI sources said here on Tuesday.
In addition, CBI raided 20 places around the country at the official and private residences of the accused and suspect officials and recovered incriminating documents, huge amounts of cash and jewellery. The raids are still continuing. With this, the number of arrests in the scandal has risen to five. CBI sources said the number of arrests is expected to increase, since only one middleman has been arrested so far.
The Central Stores Department’s annual supply is worth around Rs. 10,000 crore, as it serves 20 lakh retired and serving officers of the defence services in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Its head office is located in Mumbai. The officials and middlemen of M/s Sankalp arrested so far have been charged with entering into a criminal conspiracy and manipulating the demand of various CSD items in favour of the clients of M/s Sankalp.
Giving information on the recent arrest on Tuesday, a CBI press note stated, “Brigadier Shri Anuj Kainthla, Joint General Manager-I, had accepted Rs. 7.5 lakh from M/s. Sankalp, for taking a favourable decision at various stages, such as introduction of items, price revision, and issue of supply orders. During initial investigation, it is revealed that he invested the ill-gotten money in real estate at Panchkula.”
“CSD officials also favoured M/s. Sankalp at various stages, such as introduction of new items, price revision, delayed and excess supply, demand creation, artificial budget allocation, etc. In lieu of favour, M/s. Sankalp, through Shri Milind Govilkar, paid huge illegal gratification to several officials of CSD,” CBI said in its press release.
M/s Sankalp was found to have been flouting norms by acting as a marketing arm of many companies. It is against the policies laid down by CSD.
The Hindu Report
Comment:
Headquartered in Mumbai, with a huge budget, the CSD operates five regional offices, 34 depots and 3825 canteen (stores) all over India to provide consumer goods to the active duty and retired personnel of Army, Navy and Air Force. Besides Daschaudhary and Govilkar (who was nabbed in Pune), CBI has arrested Vilas Harer and Manohar Vibhute. This vast empire is gigantic cauldron of corruption fine tuned by culprits seated in MOD and AHQ. This monster cannot be tamed by a few corruption cases lodged by the CBI. Drastic changes need be made to clean up the rot. The quality of products coming into the CSD for the troops is spurious, substandard and over priced to make huge profits. 50% of of this loot goes to the Government (Consolidated Funds of India) as black marketted booty (in addition to the Flag Day collection).
Rear admiral Anand Iyer is acting commandant of NDA
Rear admiral Anand Iyer is acting commandant of NDA
TNN | Jul 8, 2012, 04.46AM IST
PUNE: Rear admiral Anand Iyer has taken over as the officiating commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla.
This follows the transfer of NDA commandant Lt Gen Jatinder Singh to the Army headquarters in New Delhi to ensure a fair probe of the recruitment scam that has hit the prestigious academy. While Singh's transfer was ordered by defence minister A K Antony on July 4, the NDA received the orders on Saturday.
In a statement released later, the NDA public relations office said, "Orders have been received for Lt Gen Jatinder Singh, commandant, NDA, to be attached to the Army headquarters and these orders are being complied with. As of now, Rear admiral Anand Iyer, deputy commandant, has taken over as the officiating commandant. The rest are matters of procedural details which would be implemented as instructed by higher headquarters."
NDA has a new Commandant
Rear Admiral Anand Iyer, VSM has taken over as the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of NDA. He replaces the incumbent Air Vice Marshal A S Bhonsle who has proceeded on transfer as the Senior Officer in charge of Administration (SOA) at HQ South Western Air Command (SWAC).
Rear Admiral Anand Iyer is an alumnus of NDA 53rd Course and Naval Academy and was commissioned in the Communications Branch of the Indian Navy on January 1, 1980. The Admiral is a post graduate from Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington and Cranfield University in United Kingdom, and holds an M Phil degree on National Security Studies from the National Defence College, India. In addition, he has completed professional courses at Leningrad, USSR and Cranfield University, UK.
During a career spanning more than 30 years, he has held a mix of operational and staff appointments. A specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, he has commanded Indian Naval Ships Kora, Ranvir and Mumbai. He has also held many staff and operational appointments at Naval Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Anand Iyer, VSM has taken over as the Deputy Commandant
TNN | Jul 8, 2012, 04.46AM IST
PUNE: Rear admiral Anand Iyer has taken over as the officiating commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla.
This follows the transfer of NDA commandant Lt Gen Jatinder Singh to the Army headquarters in New Delhi to ensure a fair probe of the recruitment scam that has hit the prestigious academy. While Singh's transfer was ordered by defence minister A K Antony on July 4, the NDA received the orders on Saturday.
In a statement released later, the NDA public relations office said, "Orders have been received for Lt Gen Jatinder Singh, commandant, NDA, to be attached to the Army headquarters and these orders are being complied with. As of now, Rear admiral Anand Iyer, deputy commandant, has taken over as the officiating commandant. The rest are matters of procedural details which would be implemented as instructed by higher headquarters."
NDA has a new Commandant
Rear Admiral Anand Iyer, VSM has taken over as the Deputy Commandant and Chief Instructor of NDA. He replaces the incumbent Air Vice Marshal A S Bhonsle who has proceeded on transfer as the Senior Officer in charge of Administration (SOA) at HQ South Western Air Command (SWAC).
Rear Admiral Anand Iyer is an alumnus of NDA 53rd Course and Naval Academy and was commissioned in the Communications Branch of the Indian Navy on January 1, 1980. The Admiral is a post graduate from Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington and Cranfield University in United Kingdom, and holds an M Phil degree on National Security Studies from the National Defence College, India. In addition, he has completed professional courses at Leningrad, USSR and Cranfield University, UK.
During a career spanning more than 30 years, he has held a mix of operational and staff appointments. A specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, he has commanded Indian Naval Ships Kora, Ranvir and Mumbai. He has also held many staff and operational appointments at Naval Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Anand Iyer, VSM has taken over as the Deputy Commandant
Adarsh scam: Ex-army chiefs called to depose
Rajshri Mehta, TNN | Jul 8, 2012, 01.10AM IS
MUMBAI: After three former CMs, a number of retired senior army men, including former chiefs Gen N C Vij and Gen Deepak Kapoor, have been summoned by the judicial commission probing the Adarsh housing society scam.
The panel is slated to question Lt Gen (Retd) G S Sihota, who formerly headed the Southern Command, on July 9. He will be followed the next day by the former vice-chief of Army staff, Lt Gen (Retd) Shantanu Choudhary. Gen (Retd) Vij and Gen (Retd) Kapoor will depose on July 11 and a day after will be the turn of two former general officers commanding of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa region, Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh and Maj Gen (Retd) R K Hooda. All these army bigwigs were allotted flats in Adarsh, though, once a controversy erupted, a few promised to return them.
Adarsh scam: Ex-army chiefs called to depose
Readers Opinion: Navin Kolkatta
Dear Sir, We hope that the deposition of the ex Army top brass will be made public for all to see the extent of collusion in such cases and steps required to prevent such events from recurring. Let us hope no one suffers from amnesia during the deposition hearings!
CBI officer heading probe transferred
Adarsh scam: Bureaucrats plan to contest former CMs’ claims
Comment: CBI comes under MHA and so manipulated by P Chidambaram who is author of hidden scams doing the rounds in the public domain.
The panel is slated to question Lt Gen (Retd) G S Sihota, who formerly headed the Southern Command, on July 9. He will be followed the next day by the former vice-chief of Army staff, Lt Gen (Retd) Shantanu Choudhary. Gen (Retd) Vij and Gen (Retd) Kapoor will depose on July 11 and a day after will be the turn of two former general officers commanding of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa region, Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh and Maj Gen (Retd) R K Hooda. All these army bigwigs were allotted flats in Adarsh, though, once a controversy erupted, a few promised to return them.
Adarsh scam: Ex-army chiefs called to depose
Readers Opinion: Navin Kolkatta
Dear Sir, We hope that the deposition of the ex Army top brass will be made public for all to see the extent of collusion in such cases and steps required to prevent such events from recurring. Let us hope no one suffers from amnesia during the deposition hearings!
CBI officer heading probe transferred
Adarsh scam: Bureaucrats plan to contest former CMs’ claims
Comment: CBI comes under MHA and so manipulated by P Chidambaram who is author of hidden scams doing the rounds in the public domain.
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