Assam Rifles funds used to shower gifts on home ministry officials

One scam after the other hits one of India's oldest paramilitary force. Recent investigations reveal that the Assam Rifles fund, meant for the welfare of the jawans, were spent on silk sarees and scotch whisky

Arms dealer Abhishek Verma links Lt Gen in the Racket

Rajesh Ahuja of Indian Military news
27 Sep 2012
Controversial arms dealer Abhishek Verma has told the CBI that a retired Lt-Gen, who has been under investigation in another bribery case, was on his payroll, sources disclosed.
The CBI had questioned Verma in connection with a case registered under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
The agency has alleged that more than half a dozen documents classified as secrets were found in Ganton Ltd employees’ possession. Ganton is allegedly a front company of Verma.
“Verma claimed that a senior retired army officer of the Lt-Gen rank became his consultant of sorts. The arms dealer was allegedly paying Rs. 2 lakh a month in cash to the officer. The officer was once posted in an intelligence agency of the defence ministry. We are checking whether he was on Verma’s payroll before he retired. He may have supplied classified documents to Verma or employees of his front company,” an official said.
According to sources, after Verma’s statement, the Lt-Gen in question was also grilled. The officer accepted that he got monthly cash payments from Verma for his ‘consultancy’ services.
Besides the OSA case, Verma is facing CBI probes in three new cases – for getting money from arms firm, for influencing public servants and for forging letters of sports minister Ajay Maken and a CBI official.
All these cases were filed against Verma in the last few months based on documents supplied by his US-based attorney C Edmond Allen. A CBI team will visit the US next month to record Allen’s statement in this regard.
Comments:

Prince (18:52:18) : Atleast in this case,Verma is probably telling the whole truth. Logical conclusion of this case would result in a generating fear in potential offenders of this category !

COL LAMBA (08:13:26) : MAKE NAME OF LT GEN[TRAITOR] PUBLIC & FIX HIM.RS 2 LAC PM IN CASH ,DISGRACEFUL GEN

chwanken (18:53:40) : Obviously Lt Gen is same who offered 14 crores!!!
Abhishek Verma claims retd Lt-Gen was on payroll
Connect with earlier post
Tejinder Singh suffers from Amnesia- Forgets all his Dealers

President Patil’s granddaughter fails to identify United States on world map

President Patil’s granddaughter fails to identify United States on world map Published On: Fri, Jun 22nd, 2012
New Delhi. In a shocking development, outgoing President Mrs. Pratibha Patil’s granddaughter Divya failed to identify the United States of America on the world map. Her failure has shocked her teachers and the Presidential staff alike.
Her Geography teacher Mrs. Sonia Gupta was unable to control her surprise and disappointment, “Divya has been brilliant in Geography. She could otherwise identify even a rice grain-sized country on the world map and give complete description of its beautiful beaches geographical features having accompanied her grandmother President Patil to every known place on the world map. I don’t know what happened this time.”
Faking News spoke to some of her friends to get their reaction. “Divya often shared the taxpayers’ money souvenirs which she used to get from the countries she used to visit while accompanying her grandmother. She even gifted me exotic wines from France on my birthday! Seems like this time she lost her American goodies which could have reminded her of her visit to that country,” said Reeta, her bench-mate.
A pal of gloom descended inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan as soon as the news spread inside. Mr. Sifarishi Lal, Divya’s personal tutor was more candid in his views, “Whenever we accompanied Pratibha madam to her foreign vacations overseas diplomatic missions, I always made sure that I explained every detail of that country to Divya. She, in return was always eager to go on sightseeing expeditions learn more about the country’s geography. As a result she has always been a topper in Geography in her class. So it is beyond reason to my why she should fail to spot a particular country on the map.”
Similar views were echoed by other officials of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
“Divya could even point to a country while blindfolded which was yet to feature on the world map. For instance we accompanied madam President to this island which was inhabited by only 100 people. It was a diplomatic mission where she signed the ‘hijack treaty’ to deny a safe haven to airplane hijackers on that island. We even got an airport constructed over there for madam’s jet to land as they did not have one! Ask Divya and she can provide you with every detail of that island’s geography be it the beaches or snow covered mountains,” said one of the officials.
President Patil could not be reached for her views as she was reportedly busy watching MasterChef India on TV, which is said to be her favorite show.
Unconfirmed reports say that Madam Patil is even preparing to file for a re-nomination to the President’s post as she is keen to go on space missions this time and teach Divya the intricacies of the outer space, as Divya wants to become a scientist like APJ Abdul Kalam when she grows up.
President Patil’s granddaughter fails to identify United States on world map

Brajesh Mishra aids RAW spy to escape

Maj Rabindra Singh disappeared taking advantage of the then National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra not agreeing to the RAW report for his arrest. Brajesh Mishra, awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2011 for his anti- national activity!
Missing Indian spy found in US
By Iftikhar Gilani Tuesday, March 14, 2006
NEW DELHI: Rabindra Singh, a senior Indian spy who went missing in May 2004 after suspected of becoming a double agent and passing on secret and classified documents to the Americans, has been ultimately traced in the countryside of Virginia state in the United States after 22 months of hunt.
The government knew from very first day of his escape that he had fled to the United States for whom he was spying in Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s top external intelligence agency. His whereabouts, however, remained unknown until recently. A Delhi daily on Monday said Rabindra, a clean-shaven Sikh who was a joint secretary in RAW at the time of his escape just as he was to be arrested, is living in disguise with his wife and two children in Virginia. The Indian agencies have established his identity on the basis of his latest photograph in disguise and other evidences and now intense efforts are on to bring him to justice.
India and United States have the extradition treaty that may be explored to ask the US authorities to arrest Rabindra and send him back to India, though the authorities are sceptic in succeeding since Rabindra had become the American agent in RAW. Rabindra was under surveillance by the counter-intelligence unit of RAW on suspicion that he was photocopying sensitive files and classified information and handing them over to the US intelligence officials based in Delhi. He was already filmed zeroxing classified documents in his office after the agency bosses smelt rat the way he was hosting parties for the foreign secret agents.
He and his family, however, disappeared taking advantage of the then National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra not agree to the RAW report for his arrest. His handlers in the US intelligence network in the American embassy had tipped him off that their clandestine dealings with him were no longer secret. He fled to Nepal via Bihar border and then managed to reach the Untied States with the help of the undercover operatives of the US intelligence.
Rabinder was part and parcel of several undercover missions and was one of the 15 joint secretaries in the country’s top external intelligence agency’s secretariat at the time of his escape. His disappearance had caused a lot of concern in the government since he knew a lot about the counter-intelligence missions and as such he can harm the national interests.
He was a major in the Army before he came to RAW on deputation to RAW in the 80s and was absorbed in the RAW service on completion of the deputation. Rated a poor intelligence analyst, he had talent to be a better field operative. During his RAW career, he worked in Amritsar and subsequently as a field operative in West Asia and West Europe to monitor activities of the terrorist groups and Sikh militants operating from there. In Amritsar, he was assigned the task of collecting transborder intelligence.
Missing Indian spy found in US

Army Chief overturns Gen V K Singh's decision

Friday 08 June, 2012.
Army Chief overturns Gen V K Singh's decision
Overturning the decision of his predecessor Gen V K Singh, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh has lifted the ban on promotion of Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag clearing the way for his appointment as Eastern Army Commander.
The 3 Corps Commander, who can head the army in 2014, was put under a Discipline and Vigilance Ban by Gen V K Singh on charges of "abdicating responsibility" in handling an intelligence and surveillance unit under his command after a failed operation in Assam.
The decision to lift the DV ban on Lt Gen Suhag was taken by the Army Chief and the officer can now be promoted, sources said in New Delhi on Thursday.
The post of Eastern Commander is lying vacant since Gen Bikram Singh took over as the Army Chief. The DV Ban resulted in the holding up the promotion of the officer as Eastern Army Commander. The promotion had been already approved by the Defence Ministry and was being considered by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for the elevation.
Gen V K Singh had issued a show cause notice to the officer on 19th May and subsequently imposed the DV Ban on him.
Lt Gen Suhag filed his reply on 31st May, the same day Gen V K Singh retired and the new incumbent took over.
Lt Gen Suhag was earlier given only seven days to respond to the notice but was later given ten more days to do so after the Defence Ministry intervened and sought a detailed reply form the Army Headquarters about the entire episode.
Army Chief overturns Gen V K Singh's decision
Comment:
This makes it clear that Lt Gen Suhag has been cleared of any serious lapse in the matter after reportedly facing allegations of abdication of responsibility with regard to the alleged failed operation. In fact, when Gen VK Singh had ordered the DV ban recently, it had stalled his promotion to the post of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command. It sounds like the MOD, MHA amd PMO succession plan has taken the right route. We are once again reminded of Nidhi's... refrain "We must look at the bigger picture". This spat between Senior Officers, Arms lobbyists and Politicians will linger on for a long time. With 2014 Elections looming large the Arms Lobbyists are positioning their loyalists for the Big Loot- in the name of Modernisation- the Laundered money goes down the drain as election expenses for the dubious Politicians to get elected again and again and loot repeatedly!

Looking back on the genesis of Adarsh Scam

A look at the Adarsh Land Scam and the Army’s involvement
Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 22:09
Archit Bhatnagar, II Semester student of Nalsar, gets you this write-up. Archit was the 14th ranker in last year’s CLAT so his word carries some weight around here. Thank him and pester him for more. Happy Reading!
Adarsh Housing society soaring over Mumbai’s skyline was conceived and planned as a six storey housing society in South Mumbai’s upscale Colaba area set up with the aim of “accommodating and rewarding the heroes of the Kargil operation and those who had laid down their lives for the protection of the motherland,”. The building was constructed on a 4- acre plot at a place where there used to be Khukri Park, inaugurated by Field Marshal Cariappa which was defence land.
‘Adarsh’ Group Housing Society is 31-storey high building built on a controversial piece of defence land as it violates many laws, is without clearances and NOCs (No Objection Certificates) occupied by corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and former top brass of the Army and Navy. If you look at the initial list of society members of the Adarsh Co-operative Housing Society, it comprised 40 members and included mostly defence personnel. At the moment the list stands at 103, out of which only 37 members belong to the army and just three members have anything to do with the Kargil war. Among the hall of shame whose kin are proxies for the ownership of the flats here are Ashok Chavan , Vilasrao Deshmkh and Sushilkumar Shinde and Narayan Rane all of whom have been the chief minister of Maharashtra and been at some stage the sanctioning authority for the project. Other ilLUSTrious owners include former army chiefs Gen. N.C Vij (during whose term the ‘Adarsh’ Society started the construction) and Gen. Deepak Kapoor both of whom ensured that there would be no objections from the army to the building despite it being a very sensitive location.
Was the actually ‘Adarsh’ building society built for a noble cause? (Well it continues to puzzle me – how was a soldier supposed to purchase a flat costing Rs 60 lakh whose yearly income was ` Rs 96,000. Or was the ‘kargil war heroes’ appeal intended just to obtain the necessary clearances and concession for a piece of land that otherwise would never have been sanctioned?
How did ‘Adarsh’ obtain the highly sensitive and highly priced land? The aforementioned land being defence land, Maharashtra Government Revenue Department issued an order in 2003, which stated that the government has decided to hand over this land occupied by the army to the housing society at a fixed government rate (even though it was not mentioned anywhere that the land was being transferred to the ‘Adarsh’). And well who was the revenue minister when the Adarsh Files were being processed and the land was allotted? And who was also the chief minister when the project got its final clearance by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)? Any guesses? ASHOK CHAVAN – the very same man who (on the recommendation of a committee comprising Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A.K. Antony) was forced to resign from his comfortable chief minister’s seat after unsuccessfully trying his best to deny his involvement.
Does it have all the clearances and NOC’s required? And how did it get the clearances that it did? Time and again there were requests made to the Army to withdraw the initial NOC given by the Defence Estates Officer to the Mumbai Collector for Developing Adarsh Housing Society, but the colluding army top brass ensured that the voices were subdued. Recent probes have revealed that the building never procured any clearances under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) of the environment ministry. In fact, CRZ clearances were not even obtained for the original proposed six-storeys. Also, it has been found that Adarsh Society flouted the fire safety norms including the presence of refuge area, which is a non-negotiable for high-rises. The Navy claims that Adarsh never obtained any clearance or NOC from it. Anybody who threatened to scuttle the project was allotted one of these priceless apartments. Media disclosures have shown that virtually every bureaucrat involved in the clearances got flats in the name of their kin. As the club of privileged flat owners of the Housing Society expanded, so did the size of the building and the list of big wigs involved. That accounts for how a modest six storey project became a mega condominium 31 stories high.
Why did the two preceding army chiefs maintain stoic silence on the sensitive nature of the Adarsh housing society which was built on the most important naval base in the western region of the country when the current army (Gen. V.K. Singh) and navy chiefs (Admiral Nirmal Verma) have clearly termed it as a ‘Security threat’? Very simple: “A flat for a nod!” How else did army officers whose monthly income even after the 6th Central Pay Commission did not exceed 90,000 manage to purchase flats worth 8-10 crores? When Gen. Deepak Kapoor applied for the Adarsh flat in 2005, the membership rules were clear: an applicant should have lived in Mumbai for 15 years. To get this waived, he wrote to then CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, who obliged him with a domicile certificate. His salary slip submitted with the application showed an income of only Rs. 23,450 per month while his actual income even according to the 5th pay commission exceeded ` 50,000!!
Shockingly, some of the persons involved claim that the entire episode is a frame up to tar the state’s political leadership. If promoters of Adarsh are to be believed, the scam is a creation of the media and there is nothing illegal about the building. In other words, they are daring the system to pin them down and prosecute them.
This speaks of a systemic breakdown. No system can endure when the custodians of institutional propriety themselves become the perpetrators of improprieties. The Indian armed forces today are tainted by the same malaise that has become so apparent in civil life.
A complicated enquiry is being conducted. The Ministry of Environment has served a show cause notice to Adarsh Housing society. If Adarsh fails to file a reply by the 3rd December, the process of demolition is likely to begin. The Central Government ordered an investigation by the CBI. The CBI is likely to question the ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan in connection with Mumbai’s Adarsh Society scam next month.
One positive aspect of the Adarsh scam is the stand taken by the current Army chief, General V. K. Singh, who is clearly furious at the involvement of his predecessors. “I am extremely sad and as an institution we have taken a beating,” he admitted on national television. He is on record as having pledged to punish everybody involved no matter how high a position someone might have held.
General Singh has also ordered a probe into the status of all the land that the army holds. This promises to be a huge undertaking, the military being one of the country’s largest land owners with about 17.3 lakh acres under its control. Of this, the Army has the biggest share amounting to about 13.4 lakh acres. In the case of the Adarsh scam, wrongdoing will be investigated by the Army and those found transgressing legal limits will be punished.
Adarsh Land Scam and the Army’s involvement Comment: The Adarsh Scamsters are happy that Gen VK Singh has retired. Will the law take its course or will CBI and MHA scuttle the issue? Veterans need to keep a close watch on the next move of the scamsters.

Powerful Arms Lobby Target Veterans especially those who have served in Int Agencies

Jeet- The Cloak And Dagger Operative
If one was in position to select, shortlist or influence the decision making process in equipment acquisition, tempting offers, of diverse kind, if not actual bribes were always there: sometimes direct at others subtle. Sadly tempting offers made3 by friends who are in employ of the interested parties. More amazingly by the colleagues and surprisingly, at times, by the same superiors whilst in service.
Even after retirement, my phone continued ringing incessantly, with juicy offers, from different individuals offering handsome salary (maximum permissible those days), house with a car at disposal. With me trying not to be rude, evasive in response, the callers, becoming desperate and more persistent by the day, with remarks such as ‘Your value is diminishing every day.’ Lodge an FIR! Easier said than done, one does not jump in the unknown just like that, what proof could be produced to support some fleeting remark, interspersed in a casual conversations, that transpired, in the office, on the staircase, in the car park or even during dinner at a friends place.
When even assertions made by the Chief of Army Staff can challenged and contested by the so called perpetrator, what chance a mere Brigadier would have stood and to what purpose. These things happen and will continue to do so. How to tackle the situation depends on the individuals: discipline inculcated during training and service, strength of character and moral courage, the value system inherited from the family background and more importantly the support from your wife.
With me under threats along with the offers, she would be looking back at the rear-view mirror, when were out driving, if some suspicious looking car was following us., no doubt quite thrilled in the process by becoming part of the Cloak and Dagger thrills and challenges.
Brig Lakshman Singh

BEML Scamster becomes MOD spokesman

BEML serves legal notice on Gen. V.K.Singh; denies charges
A day after Gen V.K. Singh retired as Chief of Army, public sector BEML on Friday slapped a legal notice on him demanding an apology for his “false and motivated” allegations against it on the Tatra truck issue.
“Legal notice has been issued today. If he does not apologise, we may file a defamation suit against Gen V K Singh”, BEML Chairman and Managing Director V.R.S. Natarajan told reporters in Bangalore.
Gen Singh had alleged that he was offered Rs. 14 crore bribe by a former officer to clear supply of a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks into which the CBI is investigating.
“The former Army chief has made some allegations against BEML. As the CEO of the company, I deny them as absolutely false, motivated, damaging and defamatory”, Mr. Natarajan said.
The CBI has registered a Preliminary Enquiry against retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh on a complaint filed by Singh in which he has alleged that the retired Army officer had offered him the bribe for clearing a ‘sub-standard’ consignment of Tatra trucks.
Mr. Natarajan defended the delay in initiating the process for defamation against Gen. Singh saying the company had to go through the process of seeking legal advice and then placing it before the board for approval.
BEML has not received a single letter that the Tatra vehicles is sub-standard, obsolete or over-priced, Mr. Natarajan said.
BEML serves legal notice on Gen. V.K.Singh>
Comment: MOD is using a corrupt BEML Chairman to settle scores with the Military. This a plot by the IAS lobby whose money laundering opportunity has been severely curtailed. Natarajan is closely linked with MHA and MOD in running benami operations in Bangalore and Hyderabad. The CBI is investigating Natarajan as is evident from media reports. BEML chief using tax payers money to pay its lawyers for the defamation case (the company will be billed Rs 1 crore)... this is a joke!

Adarsh scamsters gang up to gun for Gen VK Singh

MoD bugging row: Tejinder Singh to move Delhi HC against Army chief General VK Singh
Continuing his fight against the outgoing Army chief General V.K. Singh, Lieutenant General (retired) Tejinder Singh would approach the Delhi High Court on May 28, sources said on Friday.
Tejinder claims to be in possession of a sting CD, which according to him would prove allegations he has made. He claims that the CD has evidence that off air interceptors were imported by the military intelligence.
He alleges that it was done at the direct instruction of the Army chief and the equipment was used to bug ministry of defence (MoD) officials and other government VIPs.
Tejinder further says the sting CD would prove that Rs.8 crore was spent on the instruction of the chief of Army staff (COAS) from the Army's secret fund for the purpose. He claimed he would substantiate his allegations with affidavits from two retired generals.
The retired officer would also demand an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into his allegations.
Tejinder had on Thursday suffered a setback after the Delhi High Court refused to direct the Centre to take back a press release of the Army alleging that he had offered a bribe to the Army chief in connection with a defence deal.
Prior to that, on May 10, Tejinder had to withdraw his case against Gen Singh from the Supreme Court wherein he had sought a CBI probe against the Army chief for alleging that he had offered bribe to him.
Read more at: Click here for the original post
Comment: Does Tejinder Singh has a Godfather in MHA for the sting CD? Is the Arms lobby paying the media?

Spooks in the Spy Agencies

Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh in fresh row over purchase of phone-tapping machines Reported by Nitin A Gokhale | Updated: May 28, 2012 15:46 IST New Delhi: After being under the scanner for allegedly offering the Army Chief a bribe, Lieutenant General (retired) Tejinder Singh could be in for more trouble.
NDTV has learnt that the government is now investigating an unauthorised purchase of five phone-tapping machines by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in 2010. Lt General Singh was the head of the DIA when the purchases were made. The equipment was allegedly bought violating the guidelines of procurement.
Last year the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), which is under the Prime Minister's Office, had asked the DIA to explain the procurement. Sources have told NDTV that Lieutenant General Singh or his successor at DIA have failed to give a satisfactory explanation to the charges.
The monitoring equipment in question is used to for surveillance on mobile-phone conversations along the Line of Control (LoC) and international borders.
The allegation against Lieutenant General Singh comes after Army Chief General V K Singh accused him of offering a bribe a year and a half ago to influence a defence deal. One of the allegations made was that Tejinder Singh offered a bribe to General Singh on behalf of a company called Tatra and Vectra Limited. That matter is now being investigated by the CBI, which has recorded the Army Chief's statement and quizzed Tejinder.
Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh in fresh row over purchase of phone-tapping machines
Tejinder Singh's fortunes come a full circle

Scamster Ravi Rishi destroys internal projections and assessments of both the Army and BEML

Former armymen, BEML staff fortified Ravi Rishi’s Tatra ring
TNN Apr 29, 2012, 06.33AM IST
NEW DELHI: Ravi Rishi, under investigation in the Tatra scam, had over the years employed a large number of former Army and BEML officers, who played a critical role in ensuring that the all-terrain truck contract ran smoothly for the past 25 years.
Among those employed by Rishi were at least two retired master general of ordnance (MGO) of the Army, senior Lieutenant Generals who had been ordering the purchase of Tatra trucks from BEML.
However, nobody raised a red flag over the retiring MGOs moving across the divide to join Rishi's Vectra Group.
According to Army sources, at least two former MGOs and a former chief of director general of quality assurance (DGQA), who too was a Lt General, have worked or are still working for Rishi. Besides, several other officers of lower rank are also working with Rishi, and ensuring that there is no hitch to the deal.
Lt Gen R I S Kahlon, who is no more, was the first MGO to join Rishi after his retirement. Another MGO Lt Gen A Sehgal and former DGQA Lt Gen Amarjit Singh have also worked for Rishi after retirement. CBI investigations have also thrown up names of many former Army officers, including Brigadier P C Das, Col Anil Dutta and Col Pushy Oberoi.
Sources said a similar trend has been noticed with regard to BEML too. Several BEML employees have taken premature retirement to work for Rishi. The extent of Rishi's influence in Bangalore was such that a former CMD of BEML joined the NRI businessman after his retirement.
According to sources, Rishi may have also hired some relatives of powerful people from the government and PSUs. Through such a network, Rishi had a virtual run of the Army and BEML and, consequently, a monopoly over the trucks' supply to the Army for over 25 years.
Sources said that there are inputs that Rishi's employees may have destroyed some internal documents of the Army and BEML after the CBI registered a case in the scam.
Rishi reportedly had access to many internal projections and assessments of both the Army and BEML, and these documents may have been destroyed.
Rishi had a virtual run of the Army and BEML and, consequently, a monopoly over the trucks' supply to the Army for over 25 years

MOD gets screwed by PMO, MHA, MEA, CBI and the Congress Party

Age row: SC judge asked me to 'blow with wind', Gen V K Singh says The writer has posted comments on this articlePTI | May 26, 2012, 08.23PM IST
NEW DELHI: Five days before his controversial 26-month tenure as Army chief comes to an end, Gen V K Singh on Saturday voiced criticism of the defence ministry for "selectively leaking" information to "fix" him.
In a series of interviews to TV channels, the General also made no secret of his unhappiness with the Supreme Court where he lost a legal battle over his age in February. In an apparent reference to a remark by Justice R M Lodha, one of the two judges on the bench that heard his case, the chief said that a very senior apex court judge had told him to "blow with the wind".
"If all of us are going to blow with the wind then we will all become muggers, we will all become corrupt," he said, according to a transcript of his interview released by the Times Now channel.
Justice Lodha had actually remarked, "wise men are those who move with the wind. We take pride in having (an) officer like you. Credit must go to you."
In a separate interview to another TV channel, the Army chief said that he had withdrawn his petition on the age issue because the Supreme Court gave no no decision. "They tried to arbitrate. Then I realised that you are fighting a system."
During the interviews, Singh said it was not not "just lobbies" working against him, but "some people are trying to protect people who are basically doing wrong things."
Turning on the ministry of defence, he said that papers related to his age were "illegitimately" released. Some papers that should never have been released under RTI rules were released and this included a couple of pages which the ministry itself had labelled "top secret".
Asked if he was saying that he had been set up, the General replied, "obviously".
When pressed to state as to who was releasing the information, Singh replied that it was the ministry.
"Absolutely," the General answered when asked whether he was saying that information was being selectively leaked to "fix you".>
Barely concealing his anger over the leakage of his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh complaining of deficiencies and shortages in the Army, the General said this was a "treasonable act". He then referred to a story, denied by the government, that a joint secretary-level officer in the Cabinet secretariat had been held responsible for the leak.
The General said that PTI does not not "manufacture" stories on its own. "So somebody must have told them, somebody authoritative enough".
The leakage was done "with a purpose to create an impression that Gen V K Singh is leaking it", he said, adding, somebody within the government "had some agenda". Asked if he would get into politics after he demits office on May 31, the chief replied, "I haven't decided anything." Told about the speculation that he may join yoga guru Ramdev, Singh replied " I don't think so. All this is speculative kite flying, to say the least. And I will not go with this kite flying." Referring to his allegation that retired Lt General Tejinder Singh had offered him bribe to clear a deal for Tatra trucks, the Army chief said he had informed defence minister A K Antony as per the services regulations.
Apparently questioning inaction by Antony then, the General said, "He (Antony) has ordered a CBI inquiry. It could have been done earlier."
On inaction on his own part, he said, "If he (Antony) had asked me to take action, action would have been taken. Be rest assured about it."
He, however, went on to add that because of Antony's "blessings" the file regarding the procurement of Tatra trucks was not cleared.
With regard to the controversy over his showcause notice to 3 Corps Commander Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, the Army chief criticised its leakage and suggested his involvement in it. "Who else will go (to the media)? The notice was signed by me and it is in the name of the officer (Suhag). Who else will handle it?... It was his responsibility to answer that showcause notice.... But without giving an answer, somebody goes to the press and shows the showcause notice," Gen Singh said when asked whether he suspected Suhag of having leaked the notice.
He said it was "morally unacceptable that a notice from a senior officer to a junior officer has found its way into media and started getting discussed".
Gen Singh has since put Suhag, who could head the force in 2014 by the current succession line, on disciplinary and vigilance (DV) ban, by which his promotion would be stalled.
Asked what if the government overturns his decision to put Suhag on DV ban, he said, "it will be government's decision, not mine. People will hold the government responsible for it."
Age row: SC judge asked me to 'blow with wind', Gen V K Singh says Veteran Voice
We laud Gen VK Simgh in attempting to clean up the corrupt system and redeem the image of the armed forces at large. There are scores of corrupt Generals (some retired) who must be brought to book. The arms lobby of India is very powerful they have agents planted in the PMO, MHA, MOD, MEA, Security agencies and many Politicians are in their clutch and speak their voice. Some ESM political organisations are sponsored by the arms lobbyists. Even postings of Senior Officers are affected through lobbyists. The Armed Forces must continue to fight this nexus and menace. One must remember that there are Criminal Politicians who want to win elections at the peril of the nation and the army. Most monies for electioneering is through money laundering cycle through the import of Weapon Systems (accumulated in Swiss and Similar Secret Accounts). The DRDO is a Dodo... The Indian Military is the Sucker always! The scams are too many to narrate here... as 2014 elections near MOD will resort to heavy dose of weapon imports... watch out for more lobbyists and scams...

Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag cons SFF

New Delhi: The Army Chief, already in a full-blown battle with the government, appears to have further aggravated the situation by asking the CBI to investigate corruption charges against a serving General, one who is second in line to replace him when he retires at the end of May.
General VK Singh wrote to the CBI, asking for an inquiry into allegations by a Member of Parliament from Bengal against Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag. The MP, Ambika Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress, had written nearly 10 months ago to General Singh, alleging corruption in the purchase of defence equipment on Lt General Suhag's watch when he (then a Major General) was in charge of the Special Frontier Force in Chakrata near Nanital. The Lt General is currently the head of the 3 Corps in Dimapur, Nagaland.
Army Chief asks for CBI inquiry against serving General
Factional feud rages again, Gen VK Singh issues show-cause notice to Lt Gen Suhag
SFF is under MHA
The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is a paramilitary unit of India. It was conceived in the post Sino-Indian war period as a guerrilla force composed mainly of Tibetan refugees whose main goal was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in case of another war between the People's Republic of China and India. Based in Chakrata, Uttarakhand, SFF is also known as the Establishment 22. The force was put under the direct supervision of the Intelligence Bureau, and later, the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency. SFF right now of course it is under the MHA like NSG, SSB, CISF etc.
Under PC's spell and pandora box... corruption and money laundering is the game for purchase of equipment for the PMF's. His family member does all the arms shopping in East European Countries clandestinely of course... his travel manifests will tell the tale...

2G Scam: It takes two to tango

In a startling revelation that may land many political heavyweights in trouble, BJP claimed to have unearthed an "ambulance scam" in Rajasthan, involving sons of union home minister P Chidambaram and minister for Oversees Indian Affairs Valayar Ravi.



Dr. Subramanian Swamy has come up with new documents which confirms P.Chidambaram's alleged role in 2G scam.P Chidambaram and A Raja met and fixed the pricing of 2G together.



Home Minister P Chidambaram's son Karthi is set to sue Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy over his corruption allegations. Speaking to NewsX Subramanian Swamy said he will wait for a law suit to be filed first before taking any action. Mr Swamy alleged publicly yesterday that Karti benefited in 2006 from his father's position as Finance Minister to earn huge profits during the sale of telecom Aircel. Mr Swamy had not produced any documentary evidence to substantiate his claims.
Related Reading
Aircel-Maxis deal: Chidambaram must resign, says BJP TNN May 9, 2012, 03.57AM IST

CBI speeds up at snail's pace: Will it house Adarsh and track Tatra?

Legal advisor to DGP figures in Adarsh scam
The CBI has asked the state Director General of Police to probe the role of his legal advisor into a money laundering scam after his name figured during interrogation of suspects arrested in a bribery case involving former MLC Kanhaiyyalal Gidwani.
The Anti-Corruption wing of CBI in Mumbai has dashed a letter to state DGP K Subramaniam asking him to probe into complicity and involvement of legal advisor M P Lalwani into the offence of money laundering exposed following the arrest of Gidwani and tax consultant J K Jagiasi in March this year.
While sources in CBI confirmed that a letter has been sent to the state police headquarters, DGP K Subramaniam told Mirror that he was yet to receive any such communication from CBI.
On March 6, the CBI Anti-Corruption Wing had arrested Kanhaiyyalal Gidwani, his son Kailash, tax consultant J K Jagiasi and CBI counsel Mandar Goswami on the charge that Jagiasi was attempting to bribe the CBI counsel on Gidwani’s behalf to tip off in case the CBI contemplated any action in the Adarsh scam.
During Jagiasi’s interrogation, CBI seized some documents which showed that Jagiasi had allegedly received Rs 10 lakh from Lalwani in cash, and subsequently the money was deposited in Lalwani’s wife’s bank account in parts by cheque. CBI suspects the exchange of money could be part of a money laundering racket scam involving Jagiasi and which led to his arrest.
Jagiasi, during interrogation, is alleged to have admitted that he received the sum from Lalwani, but did not provide any further details about the reason why the money was deposited. “We have written to the state police headquarters to probe the role of Lalwani through its competent agencies as Lalwai is a state government officer and the matter does not come under our purview. We have also tipped off other central agencies about the deal,” CBI sources said.
Jagiasi, chartered accountant, was arrested twice by the CBI in the past five months. Before his arrest for allegedly bribing the CBI counsel on behalf of Gidwani, Jagiasi was arrested in February for allegedly promising an Air India official involved in a CBI anti-corruption case, to dilute the case if he paid Rs 50 lakhs.
When contacted, Lalwani admitted he was known to Jagiasi, but said the money he had received from Jagiasi was an education loan. “I needed money for my son’s education and hence borrowed it from Jagiasi. There is nothing wrong in borrowing money,” Lalwani said.
Legal advisor to DGP figures in Adarsh scam
Express news service
Posted: Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 0042 hrs IST
The naval authorities had never approached the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) objecting against the Occupational Cetificate (OC) issued to Adarsh Cooperative Housing, chief secretary and former metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA, Ratnakar Gaikwad has told the Adarsh Commission. The two-member panel looking into irregularities in the 31-storey building, was examining Gaikwad who had given the OC to the building in 2010 when he was with the MMRDA.
Adarsh scam: Navy didn’t directly approach MMRDA to object OC, says Gaikwad
Tatra trucks scam: CBI questions more people
TNN May 9, 2012, 03.25AM IST
Tatra Scam Probe|Ravinder Rishi|CBI|BEML
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has intensified its probe to unearth alleged irregularities in procurement and supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks to the Army and has called some former defence ministry officials and executives of Vectra, involved in the deal, for questioning. Agency sources said they had found documents suggesting the role of some government officials in the multi-crore deal between Tatra Sipox (UK) and public sector undertaking BEML. However, the officials questioned on Tuesday were of middle-level posts.
Tatra Scam

2G Scam: One more culprit surfaces

Published on Apr 26, 2012 by newsxlive Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy has made fresh allegations of corruption against Home Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti. Speaking Exclusively to NewsX Swamy demanded Chidambaram quit as Home Minister. Swamy also demanded that CBI should include him and his son, Karti, in its investigation on the sale of telecom company Aircel to Malaysia-based investor Maxis. Comment: Is PC the fitting person to head the investigating agencies. Why should he head the anti terror agencies. Terror financing is through Hawala Transanctions. Can he investigate his own son's involvement?

Defence Scams: MOD, MHA and MEA gang up

'Need Jan Lokpal': Team Anna 'exposes' defence scams
Last updated on: April 27, 2012 01:35 IST
In its first press meet ever since the second phase of the budget session began in the Parliament a few days ago, Team Anna on Thursday laid out how it plans to exert pressure for a strong and independent Jan Lokpal Bill.
 Team Anna claims to have been contacted by C Edmond Allen, a US citizen and a former business partner of Abhishek Verma, who is also the main accused in the Navy war room leak case and was jailed in Tihar for two years.
The team claims that Edmond sent them bundles of documents, also adding that they cannot fully verify the authenticity of them.
"The documents point out that there have been kickbacks and huge money laundering in several defence deals," Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said. "And if one looks at these documents, it appears that the allegations made by Army General V K Singh were not just true, but an understatement of what's been happening," he added.
"These documents are evidence that there are unofficially-declared government agents, and anybody who wants to get work a deal with the government goes through them," Kejriwal accused.
Specifically, the documents first talks about a $100 million anti-dumping duty imposed on Israel-based ECI Telecom by the Union commerce ministry in December, 2010. A PTI report confirming the action was published on December 26, 2010.
By an agreement signed in February 2011, ECI Telecom hired Ganton Ltd, Edmond being its global head, and Ganton India [ Images ], a 100 percent subsidiary of Ganton Ltd. headed by Abhishek Verma to remove the custom duties fine levied by the government. The agreement promised to pay Ganton Ltd. $1 million if it succeeded in the deletion of the fine.
The documents further reveal an email dated December 17 2011, sent out by Abhishek Verma to Zeev, an ECI Telecom official, boasting that the prime minister and the foreign minister had been 'consulted'.
The mail says that Foreign Minister S M Krishna would be visiting Israel to review bi-lateral ties between the two countries. And as the email puts it, "Krishna will submit the report in favour of stronger ties with Israel and he will also recommend anti-dumping duty roll back."
Highlighting the incident, Kejriwal asked, "Are our prime minister and foreign minister fixed?"
"It seems that there are middlemen, who carry out the work for money," he said.
Team Anna claims that Edmond had been writing to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate with all these documents they have now in possession; but there was no action against Abhishek Verma by these authorities.
"The CBI and ED who should have jumped on these documents, and investigated them, are busy saving and protecting him," he said. "And hence, we demand for a strong Jan Lokpal bill."
"This would have been thoroughly investigated had there been a strong Jan Lokpal Bill that would have allowed the CBI to work independently," Kejriwal said.
In another example of glaring money laundering in defence deals, the team targeted Abhishek Verma yet again and alleged that he took kickbacks and a had a role to play in the withdrawal of an order blacklisting Zurich-based Rheinmetall Air Defense AG.
In a show-cause notice dated February 4, 2011, Rheinmetall Air Defense was blacklisted over its involvement in the multi-crore ordnance factory scam, were it was alleged that the company had paid huge kickbacks to the employees.
And even though Rheinmetall denied any involvement, Team Anna and Kejriwal released documents saying that $530,000 worth consultancy services were paid to Ganton Ltd in January 2011, to have its name removed from the blacklist.
There is however enough skepticism about the credibility of Edmond himself, since he was a former business partner of Abhishek Verma, and still owes him money.
On the credibility of the documents, senior lawyer and Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said, "Some of these documents are clearly authentic."
Team Anna is also considering taking the legal way and going to the court with the documents.
"After the Bofors scam, the government had pledged that no middleman will be allowed in defence dealings," Bhushan cited.
"He (Abhishek Verma) is a known crook, and if the government cannot take action against him, then we are seriously considering going to the court," Bhushan said.
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/need-jan-lokpal-team-anna-exposes-defence-scams/20120426.htm

Does Lt Gen Tejinder Singh have a Godfather in MHA?

CBI may go through phone calls made by Tejinder Singh
Published: Monday, Apr 23, 2012, 21:09 IST | Updated: Monday, Apr 23, 2012, 21:11 IST
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI
Probing Gen VK Singh's complaint of alleged bribery offer made to him, the CBI will go through call records of retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh to find out whether he was in touch with Vectra Chairman Ravinder Rishi or his associates before or after meeting the army chief.
CBI sources said the Army chief in his recent meeting with sleuths has assured them that he would provide some "clinching" evidence to buttress his complaint that Tejinder Singh had allegedly offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear supply of a tranche of all-terrain vehicles to the Army.
The CBI has met Army Chief on Friday last week to seek clarifications on his complaint but it is yet to meet Lt Gen (Retd) Tejinder Singh.
The agency, which has registered a preliminary enquiry in connection with complaint submitted by the Army Chief, is relying on three documents -- visitor's register, Record of Discussion of Army and documents related to Tatra, they said.
The sources said analysis of call records would give a clear picture about the allegations levelled by Gen Singh in his complaint. Tejinder Singh had refuted the allegations against him and even filed a defamation case against the Army Chief and other senior officers.
They claimed entries in the visitor's register show that Tejinder Singh did visit Gen Singh at his office on September 22, 2010 while the former had said that meeting was for personal reasons.
The Record of Discussion is an official document in which senior officials like Army Chief document communications, instructions, deliberations and decisions taken during a meeting, they said. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_cbi-may-go-through-phone-calls-made-by-tejinder-singh_1679781

Money Laundering Cycle of Tatra and 2G Scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation is inquiring into the irregularities, if any, in the purchase of the all-terrain Tatra vehicles by the Indian Army from the Bharat Earth Movers Limited.

The serious charge of corruption in purchase of Tatra vehicles was made by Army Chief General V K Singh in a recent interview. Since 1986, the Indian Army has bought over 7,000 Tatra trucks.
Rediff.com on the basis of first hand information accessed from the multiple sources tries to give answers to the frequently asked questions about the tainted deal.
What are the allegations of corruption regarding the purchase of Tatra trucks?
The allegation is about the very high cost of the Tatra trucks to the Indian army. Tatra AS is a Czech company who manufactured the world-class trucks. Tatra AS has undergone a change of ownership. (Those details a little later).
The alleged dubious route though which trucks reached the Indian Army is the focus of the investigation by the CBI. If, what the sources in the army claim are true, then it is a serious allegation involving corruption worth crores of rupees.
The allegation is that the deal worked like this:
1. The Czech company sold the trucks to Venus Projects of Hong Kong, the trading arm of Vectra Worldwide, at a 35 per cent discount. (This is the first stage of loss to the Indian Army. The discount would have come to the purchaser, that is Indian Army, if a direct deal was struck with the manufacturer or a part of the discount could have been passed on to the Indian Army by the dealer/seller.)
2. Venus Projects sells the trucks to Tatra Sipox (United Kingdom) Ltd. This UK-based company is the holding company of Vectra Worldwide, owned by controversial businessman Ravi Rishi. He need not pay tax on the deal because there is a no taxation treaty between the two countries. But the price of the Tatra trucks goes up by 30 per cent.
3. Tatra Sipox then sells the inflated-priced trucks to BEML, the government owned company, after adding its profit of around 15 to 20 per cent.
4. BEML sells these trucks to the Indian Army after adding 25 to 35 per cent.
So, if you take into account the addition of transaction cost, commission, profit whatever you say at the four stages quoted above the Indian Army was getting the Tatra trucks paying 100 to 120 per cent higher than the factory price. This is what General Singh was complaining about. The CBI is, also, focusing on these dubious dealmakers at every stage.
How does the Indian Army get spare parts?
That is, probably, another scam. The Indian Army places orders through BEML for the spares. Tatra Sipox gets the intimation and forwards it to a company called Jupiter Slovakia, which is a holding company of Vectra Worldwide.
Jupiter contacts the suppliers of the Tatra spare parts but it does not go to the original Czech company. Thus, the pricing of the spare parts is arbitrary and mostly exorbitant. The Indian Army ends up paying 200 to 300 percent more than the actual cost. Since, the spare parts are not acquired from Tatra AS one is not even sure of the quality. Is there any other such dubious deal?
Yes. Brahmos, the Indian-Russian missile joint venture, needs cranes. BEML procures Atlas Cranes from Tatra Sipox. The same modus operandi is used by the Ravi Rishi. He gets it at around 35 per cent discount from Atlas Machinen GMBH, the German company that makes the cranes.
Tatra hikes the cost by some 25 per cent or more and sells to BEML who in turn gives it to the Brahmos after adding its own margin. India pays some 75 per cent plus higher cost by not buying straight from the Germans.
Ravi Rishi Money Laundering cycle
Govt denies money laundering cycle of 2G Scam: P Chidambaram and his son Kartik being protected- A Tango Duo

CBI's diversionary raids on BEML Chief: CBI could pull a few more rabbits?

Tatra punch packed with raid heat on BEML chief By Mail Today Reporter
PUBLISHED: 19:28 GMT, 19 April 2012 | UPDATED: 19:28 GMT, 19 April 2012
The CBI on Thursday opened another front to pin down the tainted chief of the state-run Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) who has already been neck deep in trouble for the multi-crore military truck scandal.
The sleuths registered a case of corruption against BEML chairman and managing director VRS Natarajan for irregularities in engaging the services of a consultancy firm to implement an enterprises resource planning project.
It's a parallel case that the CBI was probing apart from the primary inquiry into the BEML-Tatra trucks deal. Agency sleuths said after exhaustive raids at Natarajan's houses and offices that they were probing the new case.
A BEML spokesperson also made it clear the raids were not connected with the truck deal. 'A case against the BEML CMD and a director of a Coimbatore based company has been registered under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Searches are being carried out in the offices and residential premises of the accused,' a CBI statement said. The agency said the company in question was Astral Consulting Ltd in Coimbatore.
CBI officials added that Natarajan and the promoters of Astral connived to defraud the public sector undertaking through irregularities in the tendering process for hiring a consultancy to implement the enterprises resource planning project. 'It was alleged that the accused persons were party to a criminal conspiracy in Bangalore and other places during 2004-2009 to cheat BEML through work relating to the implementation of the enterprises resource planning project. This caused wrongful loss to the PSU (BEML) and wrongful gain to others,' the CBI said. The investigating agency, which interrogated Natarajan throughout the day, said the raids were based on credible information.
The CBI booked Natarajan and Astral director C.S. Srivatsan under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, besides Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Sources said the CBI could pull a few more rabbits as it goes through the load of complaints against Natarajan. However, the officials refused to divulge details. Apart from the BEML chief, the CBI on Thursday questioned Brig. (retd) P.C. Das, Col (retd) Anil Datta and Anil Mansharamani for their role in the Tatra scam. Their homes were raided the day before.
Mansharamani, a Tatra employee, was said to be regularly in touch with the two former army officers who were suspected to have lobbied for Tatra using their clout in the army. Sources said they were questioned for their links with the UKbased Tatra Sipox and its owner Ravi Rishi. The Tatra controversy erupted in full force after the army chief, Gen. V. K. Singh, said last month that a retired Lt-Gen. had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear the purchase of 600 substandard Tatra trucks.
It was suspected later that the officer in question was Lt-Gen. (retd) Tejinder Singh. Since then, the BEML-Tatra deal has come under intense scrutiny.
Read more: CBI could pull a few more rabbits