UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee's march towards Rashtrapati Bhavan came under attack on Monday with India Against Corruption demanding an investigation of three cases in which, it says, the Finance Minister faces corruption allegations.
IAC member Arvind Kejriwal told journalists here that Mr. Mukherjee's possible elevation would grant him immunity from criminal investigation, and therefore ought to be preceded by a full investigation.
Mr. Mukherjee’s office, however, responded with a strongly worded letter, saying the allegations were “false, unfair, self-seeking, motivated, mala fide, [and] made with ulterior motive.” It also said IAC had suppressed the fact that a public interest litigation was already pending in the Delhi High Court on these issues.
The IAC allegations include a June 2011 letter by K.M. Abraham, former member of the Board of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; corruption in the purchase of Scorpene submarines from France; fraud in the sale of rice to Ghana in 2008; and the Navy War Room leak case.
Investigators say the allegations about the Scorpene deal were made on the basis of forged documents, and there are no criminal proceedings yet under way in the alleged rice fraud. The third allegation, however, is connected to an ongoing case with potentially far-reaching national security consequences — the leak of top-secret documents on planned Navy acquisitions.
In a February 12, 2006 interview with television show host Karan Thapar, Mr. Mukherjee — then Defence Minister — appeared to suggest that influential businessmen now alleged to be involved in the Naval War Room case were innocent of any crime. Asked why the businessmen were not being proceeded against, Mr. Mukherjee said the leak involved only “commercial information,” rather than information of strategic value.
“Leakage of every official secret does not mean treason,” an irate Mr. Mukherjee said in the interview. “People want to have commercial information.”
The other businessmen charged under the Official Secrets Act are Kulbhushan Parashar, vice-president of Atlas Defence Systems, and Ravi Shankaran, against whom the CBI approached a United Kingdom court seeking his extradition. The next court hearing in the matter falls in October. Mr. Shankaran is related to the former Navy Chief, Admiral Arun Prakash.
However, soon after the interview went on air, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case under the Official Secrets Act against businessman Abhishek Verma and others. The CBI's October 2006 charge sheet alleges that Mr. Verma engaged in a criminal conspiracy to obtain documents and information which, prosecutors say, affect the sovereignty and integrity of India. In the interview, Mr. Mukherjee also said Admiral Arun Prakash had offered his resignation.
It remains unclear whether Mr. Mukherjee made his claims on the basis of information provided by the Defence Ministry or the Naval chief. CBI sources said there was also no evidence to suggest that Mr. Mukherjee had attempted to stonewall the investigation.
Mr. Mukherjee's office said the IAC failed to disclose that it had moved the Delhi High Court on these issues, after an earlier petition filed before the Supreme Court was withdrawn. IAC member Prashant Bhushan has represented the organisation in the case. The letter alleges that Mr. Kejriwal was seeking to press issues on a public forum after failing in court.
The letter also denies any wrongdoing on Mr. Mukherjee's part. “An enquiry held in May 2005 at the Air Headquarters based on the pen drive recovered from Lt. (retired) Kulbhushan Parashar culminated in a full investigation, which pointed towards the involvement of some persons in leakage of information of commercial value. The inquiry did not reveal any linkage whatsoever with the Scorpene project. As far as the leakage of information was concerned, the law took its course,” said the reply.
The letter despatched by Mr. Mukherjee's office on Sunday, which Team Anna said was received on Monday, is drafted in the form of a reply to a complaint addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by IAC on May 26, 2012.
Keywords: Pranab Mukherjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Team Anna, India Against Corruption, anti-corruption movement, Anna Hazare
pranab babu has done only one thing in his life time as he promised his mentor dhirubhai ambani INDIA WILL BE YOURS and he lived upto it all policies were formulated to accommodate ambani clan . end of story cross check rti investigate now too late so ambanis are putting their guy in the seat for representing them in tax heavens so that no investigation .
Hats off to team Anna.what a courageous lot?but I am worried about their well being as the Congress goons are getting restive. We all know bat reputation of pranab mukherjee n why was he removed from ministry of defence n ak Antony brought in his place.really shameful that such a man of doubtful integrity will be come president of india
A person wanting to occupy the Higheswt Chair Should be free from any charges of corruption and ti is imperative that he should prove himself that he is without any blemish whatsoever. Otherwise it will be a shame on the part of the country to have a president who is tainted or corrupt. Mr Pranab as decent man should prove himself that he is clean before occupying the Chair of President. Just because the UPA has designated Mr Pranab Mukerji does not mean......... The very UPA is ridden with multiple multi crore SCAMS like G2, CWG, Adharsh case, Charges of Black money etc., etc., If he is honest let him prove that he is innocent and clean.
"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion", so said Dr Manmohan Singh, when he attempted to explain his non-action against A. Raja in the 2G case.
That Mr Pranab Mukherjee has an explanation does not mean he is spotless. The political class is like a black-box and wholly united when anyone raises any questions about corruption. People in general are gullible to believe that their leaders are clean. The standards of probity and transparency are extremely low in this country and press and media are pliant if not negligent and plays the tune of the politicians.
Ceasor's wife should be above suspicion. Pranab should come out with explanations for the charges leveled by Anaa Hazare team. He cannot afford to avoid them. Especially he is going to head the three chiefs of Defense of our country. Any corruption charges in the Defense deal accusing Pranab should be cleared before he assumes the august office.
It may not only on the above case that Mr.Mukherjee will not be within reach of the judicial system if he becomes President. He may be knowing a lot about the various scams of which some central ministers have been accused and could be a valuable witness if the accused go on trial.
It is unfortunate that mr kejriwal is indulging in character assasination.No one is perfect and a comment made in a tv interview cannot-and should not form the basis,for maligning mr.pranab mukherjee. Mr.kejriwal and a few others are highly inflammatory in their allegations,vitriolic in their language and somewhat uncivil in their conduct.They should act with dignity,restraint and a little grace.
These all shows that UPA announces Pranab's candidature with a lot dubious intentions. Mulayam, who along with Mamata Banarjee announced supporting Kalam's candidature turn the table within a day shows that he is enacting a drama which is written well in advance. Mulayam has no intention to support Kalam. Once become President Pranab can escape from all kind of prosecution. Even though our President is a 'Tiger on Paper', is there any provision in our law to prosecute him if found guilty?
Today, there exist not but one politician who is honest. Irrespective of Mr. Kerijiwal's accusation, if Mr. Mukherjee is indeed clean what is the problem in coming out clean - In any case, with the CBI under PMO from his party, he would only be vindicated... When has the CBI ever successfully convicted a politician or his relative from the ruling and major parties...
Team Anna appears to have selected Kejriwal to play the role of a court jester. "Every one in India, except possibly the members of Team Anna, are sick and corrupt". "If a charge is made against any one , the same is to be taken as TRUE unless proved otherwise by the accused to the satisfaction of Team Anna". "If a court or an enquiry commission clears the accused that's not acceptable as all institutions are under the corrupts' control" "Only Team Anna can clear a person of any doubtful behaviour" "And, since Team Anna can't be wrong, the initial accusations stand and it's only fair that the accused be put behind the bars, immediatly for interminable number of years" AND, FINALLY, AS NO ONE IN INDIA OTHER THAN TEAM ANNA ARE GOOD,WE ACT AS PER THE DICTATES OF TEAM ANNA AND SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS IN LINE WITH ANNA AND HIS TEAMS WAYS.WITH RAMDEV BRINGING IN LACS OF CRORES FROM FOREIGN BANKS AND TEAM ANNA SAVING ON GOVERNANCE COSTS INDIA WILL EMERGE A SUPER POWER.
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