NEW DELHI: Yet another corruption allegation has been brought to light by Army Chief General VK Singh. A leading national daily has reported that General VK Singh has now sent a letter written by Trinamool MP Ambika Banerjee to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which calls for a probe against Lt General Dalbir Singh Suhag.
The letter was written in May 2011, where the MP alleged 'procurement scams' in the Special Frontier Force, when Lt Gen Dalbir Singh was its Inspector General. The SFF is under the administrative control of the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). Lt General Dalbir Singh currently commands the Dimapur-based 3 Corps and is interestingly third in line to be Army Chief.
The MP has alleged pay-offs for the purchase of night-vision devices, communication systems, weapons as well as parachutes. It comes at a time when the CBI is already probing bribery allegations by General VK Singh claiming that he was offered a bribe for clearing sub-standard vehicles for the Army. It also come amidst the leak of a letter written by the Army Chief to the Prime Minister's Office claiming shortcomings in defence preparedness.
Sources say the government may keep quiet till March 30 till Defence Minister AK Antony gets more proof. Sources also say that the government may ask the General to go on leave rather than sack him. With one allegation after the other, pressure is now growing on the Prime Minister to intervene. Sources say Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will speak to some Opposition leaders to discuss on issue. According to sources AK Antony, Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi want to wait and watch how others respond.