Antony transfers NDA commandant
Defence minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday ordered the immediate transfer of the commandant of the elite National Defence Academy (NDA), Lt. Gen. Jatinder Singh, from the academy to ensure a “free and fair investigation (by the CBI) into the alleged bribery (recruitment) racket” there. The move comes as a major embarrassment for the Army. The CBI has so far arrested two serving Army officers, both of the rank of colonel, among others in connection with the alleged scam. One of the arrested colonels, was the staff officer to the commandant, while the other colonel — arrested on Wednesday — was a physical training officer.
Sources said the CBI may soon question Lt. Gen. Jatinder Singh as part of the probe. Defence sources said Lt. Gen. Singh had been “attached” and that he had not been given any fresh designation as of now. Sources also said the Army had not yet ordered any inquiry since the CBI was already probing the matter. “Defence minister A.K. Antony has ordered the immediate shifting of Lt. Gen. Jatinder Singh, commandant of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Pune, from the academy. This is with the view to ensure a free and fair investigation in the alleged bribery racket in the recruitment of Group C posts in the NDA, Khadakwasla, Pune,” the ministry of defence (MoD) said on Wednesday.
A defence source later said, “Lt. Gen. Jatinder Singh has been shifted out so that the CBI can conduct its probe without any fear of interference. This eliminates the possibility of any pressure being put on witnesses.” Prior to heading the NDA, Lt. Gen. Jatinder Singh was the director-general of the Rashtriya Rifles and was also awarded the “CoAS Commendation Card”. The NDA functions under the purview of the tri-services IDS of the MoD. The deputy commandant of the NDA is likely to head the prestigious training institute for the time-being.
The CBI is probing the alleged scam in recruitment for subordinate staff in the months of May and June this year such as gardeners, cooks, lab orderlies, lab attendants and library attendants.
“It has been alleged that the Staff Officer (of the rank of Colonel) in conspiracy with some private persons and some employees of NDA had indulged in corrupt practices and obtained illegal gratification of `3,00,000-4,00,000 from each prospective candidate to give them appointment. The accused persons had allegedly taken signature of such candidate on blank answer sheets and subsequently filled them with correct answers by fraudulent means,” the CBI had stated. Thus, the actual deserving candidates were cheated,” the CBI had stated last month.
On Wednesday, the CBI said the second serving officer of the rank of Colonel holding the designation of a Physical Training Officer has been arrested.
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