Veterans lead in the anti- corruption crusade

Anna Hazare, VK Singh want Parliament dissolved
Published: Tuesday, Oct 30, 2012, 4:06 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
The country is set to witness another round of yatras by social activist Anna Hazare and his team from January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Until then, Anna will scout for people willing to join his team to trudge across the nation to help people select “right political candidates” for the 2014 general elections.
Anna and former army chief General VK Singh, who were in the city on Monday, addressed the media. “We will tell people to select political candidates on the basis of character, capacity and desire to serve people,” said Anna.
The two criticised the government and sought its dismissal “for not working for the people”. They charged the government of not protecting the people, not working for their welfare and being influenced by market-driven policies.
“We want the government to be dissolved as it is only slapping its neo-liberal policies on the people. While the preamble of the Constitution says that it is ‘by the people’, the people are not heard,” said Singh.
“The gap between the rich and poor is increasing as politicians are serving themselves and not the country,” said Hazare who advocated “pursuing of black money instead of taking loans from banks to better the economy”.
Anna also slammed the central investigation agency, the CBI, and reiterated the need for stronger laws while demanding judicial inquiry in recent allegations against BJP national president Nitin Gadkari. “People earn money for seven generations and go to jail for a few months. We need stronger laws to deter people,” he said.
As for his former associate, Arvind Kejriwal, Anna said that they had same goal but the means were different.
Speaking of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Anna said if Modi was against corruption, he should have introduced the Lok Ayukta in his state.
Anna Hazare, VK Singh want Parliament dissolved
Comment: Many retired Generals become arm chair Military advisers or remain silent spectators when the nation is truly becoming a banana republic. Will Generals lead the citizens and farmers to true democracy or enjoy the cosy comfort of their homes by spinning more money?

Tatra scam: Will the former Chief's be linked?

CBI books Tejinder Singh for bribe offer to ex-Army chief
Neeraj Chauhan, TNN | Oct 21, 2012, 03.23AM ISTNEW DELHI: After six months of elaborate investigation, the CBI on Saturday filed a case against Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 14 crore to former Army chief General VK Singh to clear the purchase of 1,676 high-mobility Tatra trucks for the Indian Army.
The agency carried raids at seven places in Delhi, Mumbai and Noida on the premises of Vectra Group chairman Ravi Rishi and Tejinder Singh's residence at Safdarjung Enclave here, and recovered Rs 98 lakh in cash and also questioned the retired Lt Gen.
Sources say that Tejinder Singh even had links with alleged arms-dealer Abhishek Verma, which is being probed.
Although there was a two-year lag between when the ex-Army chief reported the alleged bribe offer to defence minister AK Antony and CBI registering a Preliminary Enquiry (PE), the agency has decided to launch a formal investigation since the evidence seemed to corroborate Gen VK Singh's version of what transpired between the two.
CBI is conducting a parallel inquiry into the complaint regarding the monopoly Tatra has enjoyed for two decades in supplying all-terrain trucks to defence forces. Sources said the charge sheet in the case is in final stages, and could be filed in a Delhi court shortly. The agency is expected to charge officials of Tatra and the public sector, Bharat Earth Movers Limited.
Sources in the CBI said that preliminary investigation has established retired Tejinder Singh's meeting with the then Army chief as well as that the latter was unhappy with what had transpired. During its probe, CBI has established that cause of action of Tejinder Singh's visit to General VK Singh on September 22, 2010, was because "the file related to procurement of Tatra trucks was lying on the table of army chief that day" and that "Tejinder Singh offered bribe on behalf of Ravi Rishi as he is closely associated with the latter".
Antony's confirmation of General VK Singh's "oral complaint" was found to be strong corroborative evidence.
But strengthened the case for a formal investigation was evidence of Tejinder Singh's alleged dealings with lobbyists for arms manufacturers, including a Korean company. Tejinder Singh has been booked under section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. Under Section 12 of the PC Act, a person who abets the offence of making a public servant accept illegal gratification, whether or not that offence is committed in consequence of that abetment, can be punished with the minimum punishment of six months which may extend to five years.
"We have evidence of his links with a shadowy set of former defence officers who were on the payroll of arms manufacturers and suppliers", said a senior CBI source.
CBI books Tejinder Singh for bribe offer to ex-Army chief

Tatra Scam: Will Tejinder Singh influence the Law Ministry?

CBI to file chargesheet against Rishi
Neeraj Chauhan, TNN Oct 5, 2012, 03.40AM IST
NEW DELHI: The CBI will file a chargesheet against Ravi Rishi and others in the Tatra scam and finalize the enquiry into the alleged bribe offer to former Army chief General V K Singh within few weeks.
According to sources, investigation into the Tatra scam is over and the agency is awaiting the reply of the legal department on a recent presentation given by former BEML chief V R S Natarajan, who had claimed that it was a licence agreement and not transfer of technology.
About the alleged bribery offer to V K Singh by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh, CBI sources said they were taking legal opinion on the evidence collected to establish a link between Tejinder and Ravi Rishi. "We will decide whether to convert the preliminary enquiry into a regular case or not very soon," said an official. Officials said they would file a charge sheet without replies from Czech Republic and Slovakia.
CBI to file chargesheet against Rishi
Comment: Will the 3 scamsters and Conmen- Rishi, Tejinder and Natarajan be ever convicted? This is likely to take the Bofors route of intrigue- the no conviction route!

Mystery: BEML, Tatra Sipox and Venus Projects payments routed to tax haven

BEML payments to UK Tatra Sipox for deal routed to Rishi's Hong Kong firm
Josy Joseph, TNN Aug 11, 2012, 02.48AM IST
NEW DELHI: Investigators are bewildered by the strange financial relations between Tatra Sipox UK, the British company that had been supplying Tatra trucks to BEML, and another company in Hong Kong controlled by the controversial NRI businessman Ravi Rishi.
The CBI is investigating irregularities in the purchase of all-terrain Tatra trucks by defence public sector unit BEML for the Indian military. Allegations of irregularities in the deal were sent to CBI for investigation by defence minister A K Antony earlier this year, but it hit headlines after former Army chief General V K Singh claimed that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to approve purchase of a new batch of Tatra trucks.
Rishi, who controls Tatra Sipox UK and is the prime accused in the CBI FIR into the Tatra scandal, recently moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to travel abroad. CBI has opposed the demand.
What brings a mysterious twist to the Tatra scandal is the relation between Tatra Sipox UK and Venus Projects Ltd of Hong Kong. Venus is controlled from the secretive tax haven of Liechtenstein.
Investigators have been given details by banks and others concerned to establish that every time Tatra Sipox received a payment from BEML, the entire amount was immediately transferred to the account of Venus. In return, Venus gave Tatra Sipox just a 1% commission. "Tatra Sipox was just a transaction handling agency with no powers at all," a source said.
To make the entire transaction easy, both Tatra Sipox and Venus had their bank accounts with Canara Bank in London, and operated them in euro currency. In fact, on February 6, 2007, BEML agreed, for strange reasons, to change the procurement currency from dollar to euro, which led to significant loses to BEML over the next few years. Once BEML issued payments in euro, there was no currency conversion costs on either Tatra Sipox UK or Venus Projects.
With the fresh revelations that Tatra Sipox did not even have the right to decide on the payments received from BEML, the attention should shift to Hong Kong-based Venus Projects. According to documents of Venus Projects until 2011, all the shares of the company were held by Deswa Holding Establishment based in Liechtenstein.
By January 2012, Tatra Sipox was fully owned by Vectra Ltd, which in turn was also run by a trust in Liechtenstein.
BEML had signed a contract with Tatra Sipox in 1997 for a 10-year period for the supply of the all-terrain trucks and its parts. In 2003, four years before the contract expired, the PSU renewed its contract with Tatra Sipox to extend the "scope of working relationship", according to the CBI FIR into the case.
BEML is believed to have told the defence ministry that it was entering into a contract with a fully-owned subsidiary of Tatra AS, the Czech manufacturer of the all-terrain trucks. However, CBI is now convinced that Tatra Sipox UK had nothing to do with the original equipment manufacturers.
And with the latest revelations of Venus Projects being the real 'controlling authority', the Tatra contract has assumed more complex hues. Tatra Sipox emerged on the scene after the collapse of Czechoslovakia into Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company was incorporated in UK in 1994.
BEML payments to UK Tatra Sipox for deal routed to Rishi's Hong Kong firm
Related Reading

Black money case: Centre declines to make names public

Tracking Tatra: How are Chidambaram and Vayalar connected?

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

Tatra Trucks haunts MOD

Problem in upkeep of Tatra trucks: Defence ministry
PTI | Sep 27, 2012, 05.42PM IST
NEW DELHI: With procurement of Tatra trucks put on hold, the defence ministry is facing problems in maintenance of over 7,000 of these vehicles in the armed forces and is likely to seek advice from the law ministry in this regard.
The ministry is likely to seek the opinion of the law ministry on how it should go about the maintenance of Tatra trucks as supply of all-terrain vehicles from the UK-based company has been put on hold because of a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in their purchase, sources told .
After getting the view of the law ministry, a final decision on the issue may be taken by the ministry's Defence Acquisition Council, they said here.
The issue of maintenance of these trucks is a key area for the armed forces as high-value assets such as strategic missiles and other heavy weapon systems are based on these vehicles.
After then Army Chief Gen V K Singh levelled bribery allegations in connection with procurement of Tatra trucks, defence minister A K Antony had ordered a CBI probe in the case.
Procurement of trucks from Tatra were put on hold after that and CBI has questioned several officials including the head of Tatra Vectra in this regard.
The defence ministry is also in the process of cancelling an order, placed after CBI began its probe, for one Tatra truck worth over Rs 50 lakh for meeting a DRDO requirement in May.
The chairman of BEML, which was supplying these trucks in India in partnership with Tatra, has been suspended by the ministry for ensuring a free and fair probe into the charges.
Problem in upkeep of Tatra trucks: Defence ministry
Defence Ministry to cancel DRDO's Tatra truck order
Comment: Tatra scam is akin to Bofors... the real culprits will remain free and scapegoats will be investigated by CBI... conviction rate a poor zero!

Adarsh Scam: Military Officers who tell lies repeatedly

After former Army chief Deepak Kapoor, another senior officer says Adarsh Society isn't a security threat
Edited by Prasad Sanyal | Updated: July 31, 2012 13:07 IST
Mumbai: After three former Chief Ministers, a number of retired senior army men, including former chiefs General N C Vij and General Deepak Kapoor have been summoned by the judicial commission probing the Adarsh housing society scam.
Former general officer commanding of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa region, Lieutenant General (Retd) Tejinder Singh told the two-member inquiry panel today that the high-rise was not a threat to military installations in Colaba, in south Mumbai.
In his deposition earlier this month General Deepak Kapoor has contradicted the Defence Ministry's stand and maintained that the Adarsh building is not a security threat for the nearby defence installation as compared to other high-rise buildings in the area. General Kapoor had given up the Adarsh membership after the news of the scam broke out.
The Defence Ministry has always maintained that Adarsh Society was illegally built on their land.
There are multiple agencies probing the Adarsh scandal, including the judicial commission which was set up by the Maharashtra government after the outcry over the scam. The commission is probing the ownership of the land and whether it was reserved for Kargil War heroes.
The interim report submitted by the commission stated that the land belongs to the state. Three former chief ministers of Maharashtra who have deposed before the panel - Ashok Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh - too have maintained that the land belonged to the state.
Mr Chavan is among 13 people who have been charge-sheeted by CBI in the multi-crore scam. He has been charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy for recommending the allotment of 40 per cent of flats to civilians in what was supposed to be a society for defence personnel.

After former Army chief Deepak Kapoor, another senior officer says Adarsh Society isn't a security threat

Enforcement Directorate to attach Adarsh properties
To Gentlemen Military Scamsters Wake Up
You have let down the proud institutions you headed. You have let down your colleagues who must suffer the suspicions you have aroused. You have let down your country that decorated you so much. Worst of all, you have let down that soldier who saluted you day in and day out. You owe him an apology, not just a glib explanation. About others, the less said the better. They occupy some of the most plum posts and yet possess all the integrity of a pickpocket. It is no wonder India has climbed further in corruption ladder. Merely dispossessing these scamsters of their ill-gotten apartment would be no punishment. They need to be dismissed from service and prosecuted for being unworthy custodians of our trust......Sochlo?
Extracted Click here

Restrictions on Defence Officers joining firms

Govt mulling restrictions on defence officers on joining firms
Press Trust of India / New Delhi September 15, 2012, 18:45
Against the backdrop of cases of alleged involvement of former militray officers in defence scams, the Government is considering a proposal to impose restrictions on services personnel joining private arms companies post retirement.
A proposal in this regard has been prepared and is expected to be sent to the armed forces in the near future for their views on the issue, sources said here.
The biggest worry of the Government is about officers working in procurement and acquisition directorates of the ministry and the services and joining arms companies as consultants soon after retirement, they said.
Recently, Defence Minister A K Antony had stated that the Government was "seriously considering" a Standing Committee recommendation to bar services officers from joining private sector five years after their retirement.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence had recommended that cooling off period should be five years from the present one year.
The cooling off period was earlier two years but it was reduced to one year.
After the allegations levelled by former Army Chief Gen V K Singh against Lt Gen Tejinder Singh for lobbying for Tatra trucks, the Standing Committee had said that some of the retired defence officers act as a middlemen for defence procurement.
It recommended that cooling off period needs to be increased to five years for officers of the rank of Brigadier and above, and their equivalents.
Govt mulling restrictions on defence officers on joining firms
Comment
nimesh (Delhi) 15 Sep, 2012 08:55 PM
These defense officer guys are scamming the tax payer worse than corrupt babus. Like people the world over we indians revere the 'Jawans', but these corrupt officers are a scourge on the nation. They are making crores from the defense budget while the poor have nothing to eat. AK Antony is a great minister. May he succeed in his mission to clean up the defense ministry.
Moderator Comment
Generally senior officers (Brigs, Maj Gens and Lt Gens) who have six or more tenures in Delhi (and who are generally medically unfit) are prone to build up nexus with corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and munition suppliers. Many of these Officers have links with relatives of politicians who are into the business of arms procurement for the Military and Police establishments including paramilitary with the intent of making a 10% to 25% commission on weapon purchases. These commissions find their way to secret Swiss banks. Senior Officers who are medically unfit and repeatedly seeking a posting in Delhi must be boarded out. All Senior Officers posted in AHQ must be monitored by the CBI for clandestine activities and pursuing 5 star culture.
More Valid Inputs
1. The main beneficiaries from arms/equipment deals are the politicians; thousands of crores. Next come the bureaucrats. Some Army officers may get a few lacs. It is very easy and news making to set up news items against Service officers and put restrictions on them. This also deflects focus from the prime beneficiaries as mentioned above. WILL THEY PUT SAME RESTRICTIONS ON DY/JT SECRETARIES, ADDITIONAL SECRETARIES!!
2. The world over Defence Officers are employed by companies dealing with Defence Equipment. In India lately considerable officers of middle rank, Brigadiers/Cols/Lt Cols/Majors have found such employment. Many Signals officers have done so too. All are aware that Officers retire early and it is essential for them to have second career so that they can settle their children. Such restrictions will adversely affect them. Very few generals get employed.

Senior Military Officers caught in Money Spinning Spree

Army Maj Gen in the dock in electronic warfare equipment scam
[ Updated 30 Aug 2012, 14:09:27 ]
New Delhi, Aug 30: Major irregularities and siphoning off of funds have come to light in the purchase of electronic warfare equipment worth Rs 80 crore for the crucial Northern Command that covers Kashmir.
A Major General of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) is in the dock in the Court of Inquiry, presided over by a Lieutenant General.
The Major General was attached to the Udhampur-based Northern Command earlier this month. The senior ranking officer has been divested of all operational responsibilities pending completion of the Court of Inquiry.
A newspaper report quoting sources said, the deal for electronic warfare and other sensitive equipment was signed last year and the Army carried out a preliminary probe when allegations of misappropriation by way of submitting fake bills came to light some months later.
Finding substance in the allegations, the Army then ordered a formal Court of Inquiry in May this year against a Colonel.
He, however, denied the allegations and pointed fingers at his Major General, who was the Master General (overall chief) of the Northern Command EME.
Officials said the officers were not able to explain expenditure of nearly Rs 30 crore out of the Rs 80 crore deal.
Sensing the seriousness of the charges, the Army ordered another Court of Inquiry after allegations surfaced against the Major General.
The latest scam involving senior officers comes in the backdrop of cases like Adarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai, Sukna land scam and allotment of defence land to builders in Pune. All these cases involved officers of the rank of Lt Generals.
A former Military Secretary was also divested of his rank in the Sukna land scam.
Besides these high profile cases, two Lieutenant Generals, now retired, were prima facie found guilty of misappropriation of funds in procurement of rations including dal and mutton for troops.
Army Maj Gen in the dock in electronic warfare equipment scam
Comment: EW equipment purchase scandal by EME seems to be a new avenue for kickbacks as the equipment is shrouded in secrecy... Thank heavens there are no imminent war threats... Our Corrupt senior officers and bureaucrats will ensure defeat even before combat commences!

Rank Pay: Will the MOD in conjunction with UOI throw more spanners?

LATEST UPDATE
IV Pay Commission Rank Pay Anomaly Case
In the case of Maj AK Dhanapalan Vs Union of India in OP 2448/96, The Hon’ble High Court of Kerela allowed the plea of the officer and held that the deduction of the rank pay was not correct and directed to re fix the basic pay of the officer from 1.1.1986. Appeal filed by the Union of India before the larger bench of the High Court & SLP in the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the judgment was dismissed. Although Govt sanction to pay arrears to Maj AK Dhanapalan were issued, the benefit was not extended to similarly placed officers of the three Services.
Similar cases were filed by a large number of officers in various courts throughout the country. The Supreme Court of India directed that such of the cases be transferred to the apex court. Retired Defence Officers Association (RDOA) has been able to transfer one of the ‘lead cases’ from Kerela to the Supreme Court.
AS ON 04 SEPT 2012
The IV CPC Rank Pay Case was finally heard today ie 04 Sept 2012, in Court no 7, in the court of Hon’ble Justices RM Lodha, TS Thakur and Anil S Dave. The appeal file by UOI for recall of order of the Hon’ble Court dated 08 March 2010 was dismissed by the Court. The court upheld its order of 08 Mar 2010. The Solicitor General spent marathon four hrs to convince the court about the legitimate deduction of the rank pay but was not able to justify the deduction of rank pay and as to fitment of pay of AF officer vis a vis a civilian offr drawing same basic pay as on 1/1/1986.
The said order will be applicable to all affected offrs of the AF wef 01/01/1986 to 01/01/2006 across board. It would also be applicable to all pending cases in various courts and AFT’s across the country on the subject case.
The interest will be applicable @ 6% wef 01/01/2006 and not 1986. This is the only change made by the court. The court has also directed that all arrears should be paid within outer limit of 3 months from today ie 04 Sept 2012.
So, the pay and pension of all affected officers of the AF are set to revise from 01/01/1986.
RDOA Blogspot
SPANNERS PROPOSED BY UOI through Solicitor General as on 11 Jan 2012
The UOI has suggested a big 'spanner' to cause delay in the IV CPC rank pay case. In its affidivit filed the UOI says that the Central Govt is open and willing to constitute an independent commission headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to examine the correctness of the implementation of the recommendations by IV CPC related to rank pay as given in para 28.113 of its report and to make recommendations for further improvements to the proceedure for disbursement of pension to retired Armed forces personnel based on Govt orders subsequent to VI CPC recommendations THIS IS PURE HOGWASH AND ONLY TO DELAY MATTERS. RDOA IS NOT GOING TO BUY THIS LINE OF ACTION. Further it says: Apart from the enormous financial implications, actual implementation of the Hon'ble Court's order would involve the following stages;

Revision of pay of offrs on 1/1/1986, 1/1/1996, and 1/1/2006 with simultaneous revision of all pay linked allowances/benefits.

Calculation of DA on slab basis from 1/1/1986 to 31/12/1995 is time consuming

Revision of retirement benefits (gratuity, leave encashment)of offrs retiring after 1/1/1986

Revision of pension on 1/1/1986, 1/1/1996, 1/1/2006.

Revision of family pension based on revision of pension of offr

Payments to be made to legal heirs of deceased offrs

Interest @ 6 % per annum for upto 24 yrs in each case will have to be calculated and paid. This would be a protracted exercise taking a lot of time and involving huge manpower as each case will have to be examined/ calculated individually.
RDOA comment. UOI is responsible for this faux pas and should do the needful and pay the offrs their legitimate dues. The Court should raise the penalty to 18% for causing unnecessary delays in implementing court orders.

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!

Tatra-Vectra-Rishi triangle a threat to defence?

Rishi’s Vectra Group is the real financial gainer?
A source and senior BEML employee who has worked closely with Tatra truck deals told DNA that Rishi has been “managing” Tatra deals and used to get Tatra orders cleared every year by bribing officials in the Indian Army and BEML. His company is the real beneficiary of this Tatra deal and he might have wanted to push Gen VK Singh to sign the deal clearing another tranche of trucks, said the source.
According to the Czech complaint, Tatra Czech’s board of executives is obligated under the law to exercise its role diligently. However, by allowing Tatra Czech to supply completely knocked down (CKD) sets of Tatra freight vehicles to BEML Ltd indirectly (via Tatra Sipox/Vectra Group), Tatra Czech is stripped of any profit, which is undoubtedly not diligent. “At a common rate of 0.96 million CZK per set and a usual margin of 10%, TATRA Inc. suffered between 2005 and 2010 a loss of profit of 270 million CZK,” the complaint states. It is obvious that due to this indirect sale, Tatra Czech commits tax evasion to the scale of several dozens of millions of Czech Korunas, says the complaint.
Vectra Group a Tax Evader?

Isn't Tatra-Vectra-Rishi triangle a threat to defence? by Sankar Ray
The Tatra Truck scam unfolds like an unending chain reaction. Revelations, one after another, bring out stupefying details. Much before General V K Singh divulged the alleged Rs 14 crore kickback offer, Czech website http://www.ceskapozice.cz carried an explosive interview with Václav Láska, a former high-ranking police investigator, lawyer and an exregional head of watchdog Transparency International on 27 April last. The major stakeholder of the Czeck truck manufacturer faced severe financial crisis due to tunneling and tax evasions. Speaking to the widely read Czech daily Právo, Láska disclosed that a criminal complaint was lodged against the management of Tatra trucks and one of the firm's major shareholders, Indian businessman Ravinder Kumar Rishi, deputy chairman of Tatra's supervisory board, and the owner of Vectra Limited. The sale of truck parts at knock-down prices to India via an intermediary British company damaged the company, it stated. Criminal complaint from the Czech government is too crucial for the Indian ministry of defence (MoD) to ignore. "If the criminal complaint is deemed to be justified, steps could be taken which will curtail further losses and also stop additional tax evasion," Láska told Právo.
The Czech manufacturing firm which has been supplying complete knock-down kits containing all the components of haulage to the India's central public sector undertaking BEML Limited where the vehicles are assembled, incurred losses running into millions of crowns. Láska told the Czech morninger, "The Tatra company sells kits to the British company Vectra Limited without a profit margin, and even at prices lower than the cost of manufacturing. All margins from this business go only to the accounts of the British company. The fact that the representatives of Tatra allow these transactions clearly contradicts the principles of sound economic governance."
Was the MoD, particularly the defence minister A K Antony whose DNA is his unimpeachable integrity unaware of the news in one of the largest selling dailies in Prague? It's very unlikely. Diplomats at the Indian embassy in Prague read and scan the Czech daily regularly. The so-called defence analysts - I mean the majority of them - might have kept their eyes closed and ears shut as these pundits keep defence establishment in good humour. About the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis which receives substantial funds from the MoD, the less said, the better.
British-registered intermediary firm Vectra Limited, the intermediary, frequently purchased the CKD kits at below production cost. The role of biggies at the helm of the Indian PSU BEML which assembles the vehicles and their bonhomie with their counterparts in Vectra Limited that frequently purchased the CKD kits at below production cost is murky and has to be probed. Let the defence pundits be kept at bay Rishi has been the de facto negotiator for both Tatra and Vectra. Láska snapped fingers at Rishi for indulging in misinformation for pecuniary gains. In 2010, alone Tatra sold 600 CKD kits to the BEML ( other than additional commitment of 460 kits in the same year).
Doubts about under-the-table deals are no hearsay based, nor is the total amount of kickbacks confined to barely Rs 14 crores. The subterranean transactions in which were involved people who were not in uniform must have been several times more. Mr Antony knew everything but remains mum, very much contrary to his style of politics and ministership. Was he being prevented by a any extra-constitutional authority from dealing with the matter freehandedly?
According to Láska, between 2005 and 2010, Tatra incurred losses in potential profit to the tune of Kč 270 million (Rs 750 crores). He based his calculations on a profit margin of 10 percent per kit. The management intentionally forfeited for selling the goods to Vectra Limited at a knock-down price. "By transferring the considerable profits to the British company, the Tatra company reduced its income tax payments by tens of millions of crowns," he added That means the Czech Republic had to absorb 10 per cent loss due to under-invoicing. But Vectra supplied trucks at more than 100 per cent of the amount for which Tatra sold in the open market. This scam goes abated for the last ten years and if Rishi cheated Czechs by 10 p.c., MoD or BEML's financial damage is ten times more.
Trucks produced by Tatra, one of the world's oldest manufacturers of motor vehicle, enjoyed a high reputation during the 'communist' era. The quality of the trucks is not known to have been questioned. The successful launch of Agni - ICBM was from Tetra trucks. The question is about the murky role of arms dealers or the intermediaries for whom business ethics has no meaning.
Isn't Tatra-Vectra-Rishi triangle a threat to defence?

Lt Gen Tejinder Singh makes a monkey of all investigative agencies

Revealed: How another Army officer got away with scams
New Delhi: There seems to be no end to troubles for the Defence Ministry, which is already having its share of corruption allegations. Adding more embarrassment to the corruption-hit Ministry, another allegation on an army official has come to the fore.
According to a report published in DNA, a Lieutenant Colonel, accused of misappropriating the ministry's youth funds was allowed to wrongfully use naval facilities as a private operator and got away with one scam after another.
In a case dating back to May 2005, Lt Col Gautam Dutta was named in serious wrongdoings that ranged from over-invoicing of coach boats to excess claim of dearness allowance during international participationbr.
Reporting an incident of financial imporpriety, Commodore AS Bajwa, the then honorary secretary general of the Yachting Association of India (YAI) had named Lt Col Dutta of the Army Yachting Node in Mumbai’s Colaba in a case of financial impropriety.
Even though, A board of inquiry was set up by the Indian Navy in August 2005, Lt Col Dutta’s case was never referred to the Army Headquarters. But even though he was the only Army officer who had been found guilty of misappropriation, no action was taken.
A senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “This was mainly due to the fact that Maj Gen Dutta (Retd), his father, had been intimidating the concerned officers with dire consequences.
According to the DNA report, Lt Col Gautam Dutta’s father, Maj Gen S Dutta, had threatened the inquiry officer Commodore Bajwa for daring to go against his son.”
Further, to avoid inquiry, Lt Col Dutta resigned from the Indian Army toward the end of 2006 and joined his father in selling boats and motor yachts.
In 2007, the YAI initiated disciplinary action against Lt Col Dutta and in Dec 2007, his Life Associate Membership to the YAI was terminated by the General Body. (A copy of the AGM 2007 minutes issued by the YAI is now with DNA).
Tejinder defended Dutta
Interestingly, Adarsh scam beneficiary Lt Gen Tajinder Singh, who was recently named in Army Chief General VK Singh's bribery complaint, was found shielding Lt Col Dutta in the Board of Inquiry from Commodore Bajwa and Captain Rajesh Sarin, the board’s president.
Lt Gen Tejinder had his reasons for defending Lt Col Dutta. As per the reports, Singh went ahead to hush up the Annual Confidential Report (ACR), which listed complaints against Lt Col Gautam Dutta since Maj Gen Dutta was the legal guardian for Tejinder Singh’s daughter when she was studying in Mumbai.
Partners in crime
Gautam Dutta reportedly refunded a sum of Rs 14.86 lakhs to the YAI in 2008. Though this was money that belonged to the government, it was not returned to its source, but signed off as a donation to the YAI, suspending the flow of inquiry.
Some of those who were seen to have helped Dutta continue his corrupt endeavours have since been implicated in the Adarsh scam, while some have been unfortunately misrepresented and have gone on to receive Drona awards.
Surprisingly, all those found guilty of financial irregularities had donated huge amounts of money to the YAI and have resigned from the defence services, and no criminal action was ever taken.
After giving a false statement to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, Secretary General rear admiral Monty Khanna has helped the aforementioned offenders get a clean chit.
The donors list on the YAI website shows that Commander Motivala has donated Rs 7.5 lakh and that Applied Nutrition Science (owned by Commander Farookh Tarapore, recipient of Arjuna Award) donated Rs 2.2 lakh after an inquiry found them guilty. Both resigned soon after and returned the cash award money as donation to YAI.
Lt Gen Tejinder Singh and Adarsh Scam
Tejinder Singh withdraws from SC plea against Army chief Gen V K Singh
Comment: Tejinder Singh is well connected with all the Investigation Agencies. He seems to be a conduit for Tatra Scam too- to siphon money to Swiss or similar secret banks. Where did Tejinder Singh get money for booking a flat in Adarsh Housing Society? He is integral to a litany of scams and money laundering. His Political connections needs to be investigated to get to the bottom of all scams. Why is he linked to all the three former Army Chief's. He seems to be making a mockery of Chetwode Motto of IMA. We Veterans pray that Field Marshal Philip Walhouse Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode, 7th Baronet of Oakley, GCB, OM, GCSI, KCMG, DSO gets up from his grave and gives Lt Gen Tejinder what he really deserves!

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?

Adarsh: A calculated Military Ponzi scheme to reap a harvest

Adarsh case: Land does not belong to defence, says interim report
Reported by Priyanka Kakodkar, Written by Mala Das | Updated: April 18, 2012 01:40 IST
Mumbai: In a huge relief to the Maharashtra government, the judicial commission of inquiry looking into the Adarsh housing scam has held that the land on which Adarsh Housing Society stands belongs to the government, and not the Army.
The state government had approached the commission a few months ago seeking an interim report on the points of title and reservation. A two-member panel was set up to probe the scam in January last year.
The panel, which submitted its interim report to the government last Friday, also held that the 31-storey high-rise was not reserved for war heroes and Kargil widows.
Findings of the interim report, many say, could impact the case of the CBI that's running a parallel probe contending it's a Defence land grab. The investigating agency, however, says that these findings will not affect its case as it is not investigating the land title but the larger conspiracy and corruption.
When the Adarsh scam broke, politicians, bureaucrats and Armymen were accused of grabbing Defence land. This report comes as a vindication of the state's stand that it was government land and it was free to allot it.
"From day one, we have been saying the same thing. But the issue was so hyped by the media and after a lot of publicity and media attention, nobody accepted the stand of the government," said Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told NDTV.
"There is no conspiracy. That is established today," said former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan.
This report provides some relief to those involved in giving initial clearances like former chief ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sushilkumar Shinde.
The judicial panel has been tasked with probing all aspects of the scam, including ownership of the land and allotment, as well as alleged violations of rules in grant of various clearances to the building. The commission is also looking into violation of coastal zone regulations.
The illegal green clearance against which the Union Environment Ministry has taken a strong stand came during Mr Mr Shinde's tenure. During Mr Deshmukh's tenure, doubtful additional building rights were granted to Adarsh. And Mr Chavan still faces charges of conflict of interest as three family members were allotted flats in Adarsh during his tenure as revenue minister.
Original Post- click here
Comment
Who then are the culprits who handed over the Khukri Garden Military Lands to Adarsh? Till that point of time there was no controversy regarding the Military Land Ownership. The criminals have arm- twisted the Military out of its fencing! The Adarsh scam is only a droplet in the ocean- an eye- opener to what is is happening in all the cantonments- Land sharks have ursurped Miltary Lands by paying bribes to title holders at the lowest level but operating from the top....