Perturbed over allegations against top military officers, including some former services chiefs, in the Mumbai housing scam, Army Chief General V.K. Singh on Thursday asserted that action would be taken against those found guilty irrespective of who it was.
Gen. Singh said he was “extremely saddened” over the allegations, which had “shamed” his force.
“We are establishing who did what wrong, and action will be taken against those found guilty irrespective of who it is,” he said in interviews to television channels.
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Asked about the actions of his predecessor, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, Gen. Singh made known his disapproval of Army Chiefs seeking favours and waivers.
Facing the heat, Gen. Kapoor met Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Thursday and is understood to have explained his position.
During the 30-minute meeting at the Defence Ministry here, Gen. Kapoor is believed to have told Mr. Antony that he welcomed a probe into allotments and other complaints against the housing society.
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The Minister subsequently met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is said to have apprised him of the progress made in the housing scam probe.
The scam resurfaced recently after Western Naval Commander Vice-Admiral Sanjeev Bhasin flagged security concerns over the 31-storey high-rise building coming up within the security perimeter of the naval base in Mumbai.
Thursday's meeting took place after Gen. Kapoor sought an appointment to clear the air over the criticism that he and fellow services chiefs had got flats for themselves in the upscale Colaba housing society, though a part of it was meant for Kargil widows and martyr's families.
He is also understood to have informed Mr. Antony that he had immediately surrendered the allotment of the apartment in his name.