New Delhi: Days after he shared the stage with BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at a public rally, former Army Chief General VK Singh faces allegations of misusing funds from a secret intelligence unit that he set up and trying to bribe a minister to topple the Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir. The allegations are listed in an army report that has reportedly been brought to the notice of the Prime Minister's Office .
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The Indian Express has revealed contents of a report by a secret Board of Inquiry that is said to have recommended a CBI probe into the army's Technical Services Division (TSD), a controversial intelligence unit set up by General VK Singh in 2010.
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The army report says funds withdrawn from the army's secret service accounts with the State Bank of India match payments claimed by the intelligence unit officials for many covert deals.
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Intelligence officials allegedly withdrew Rs. 1.19 crore to bribe Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir to topple the state's Omar Abdullah government. Mr Mir has denied the charge.
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The army report also alleges that Rs. 2.38 crore was paid to Hakikat Singh, an activist linked to NGO 'Yes Kashmir' which had filed a petition against Bikram Singh in connection with an alleged fake encounter when he was brigadier. The petition, which was later dismissed, was seen as an attempt to block the elevation of Bikram Singh as army chief.
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The board apparently took testimonies of several army intelligence officers, including those attached to the TSD, who revealed "siphoning'' of large sums of money for covert operations and buying snooping equipment.
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Defence Minister AK Antony has reportedly flagged the revelations to the Prime Minister's Office. Sources say the Defence Ministry believes the testimonies have no legal value, and the controversial intelligence unit had covered its tracks well while taking funds.
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The army says it considers the matter closed, but sources say it has the right to order court martial proceedings in case of any wrongdoing.
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In an interview to NDTV recently, General Singh blamed the controversies on his new political innings and speculation that he will contest polls against the Congress. "The TSD is controlled by military intelligence, not the army chief. These controversies are deliberate. They can't find anything against me, or somebody has fed them information against them. It is all vested interests," he said.
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Stating that the TSD unit had been set up to strengthen border vigilance, the former army chief said, "If they had not tinkered with the organization, a lot of things that are happening on our borders today would not have happened."
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The BJP said the former army chief was being hounded for being seen with Narendra Modi. "The allegations sound spurious because of the timing and content," said party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.
Ex-army chief VK Singh tried to topple J&K government: Report | NDTV.com
Gen VK Singh may be probed for trying to 'topple' J&K govt
1.
The Indian Express has revealed contents of a report by a secret Board of Inquiry that is said to have recommended a CBI probe into the army's Technical Services Division (TSD), a controversial intelligence unit set up by General VK Singh in 2010.
2.
The army report says funds withdrawn from the army's secret service accounts with the State Bank of India match payments claimed by the intelligence unit officials for many covert deals.
3.
Intelligence officials allegedly withdrew Rs. 1.19 crore to bribe Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir to topple the state's Omar Abdullah government. Mr Mir has denied the charge.
4.
The army report also alleges that Rs. 2.38 crore was paid to Hakikat Singh, an activist linked to NGO 'Yes Kashmir' which had filed a petition against Bikram Singh in connection with an alleged fake encounter when he was brigadier. The petition, which was later dismissed, was seen as an attempt to block the elevation of Bikram Singh as army chief.
5.
The board apparently took testimonies of several army intelligence officers, including those attached to the TSD, who revealed "siphoning'' of large sums of money for covert operations and buying snooping equipment.
6.
Defence Minister AK Antony has reportedly flagged the revelations to the Prime Minister's Office. Sources say the Defence Ministry believes the testimonies have no legal value, and the controversial intelligence unit had covered its tracks well while taking funds.
7.
The army says it considers the matter closed, but sources say it has the right to order court martial proceedings in case of any wrongdoing.
8.
In an interview to NDTV recently, General Singh blamed the controversies on his new political innings and speculation that he will contest polls against the Congress. "The TSD is controlled by military intelligence, not the army chief. These controversies are deliberate. They can't find anything against me, or somebody has fed them information against them. It is all vested interests," he said.
9.
Stating that the TSD unit had been set up to strengthen border vigilance, the former army chief said, "If they had not tinkered with the organization, a lot of things that are happening on our borders today would not have happened."
10.
The BJP said the former army chief was being hounded for being seen with Narendra Modi. "The allegations sound spurious because of the timing and content," said party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.
Ex-army chief VK Singh tried to topple J&K government: Report | NDTV.com
Gen VK Singh may be probed for trying to 'topple' J&K govt