CBI finds ‘money trail’ in NDA scam, seeks to grill Lt Gen

The CBI has formally sought the Defence Ministry’s permission to question Lt Gen Jatinder Singh in the racket in recruitment of junior employees at the National Defence Academy (NDA), after allegedly establishing a “money trail” connecting him and his brother to the scam.

Lt Gen Singh, who was removed as NDA commandant last week for a “free and fair investigation”, is currently attached to Army Headquarters. The CBI is learnt to have shared details of its investigation into his alleged role with the ministry.

It is the first time that the head of the prestigious academy has come under such a cloud. Bribes of Rs 3-5 lakh were allegedly paid for jobs as C-grade employees at the NDA. The CBI is also looking at the role of other top officials.

The accused who are currently in CBI custody have reportedly confessed their involvement and also alleged that the top management at the Pune-based institution was involved.

The CBI reportedly has information of a meeting between Col Kulbir Singh, who is among those arrested, and the brother of Lt Gen Singh on June 23 at Oberoi hotel in Mumbai. The agency has reportedly established that over Rs 4 lakh was handed over by Col Singh.

Col Singh was the staff officer to Lt Gen Singh at the academy and is the prime accused. Lt Gen Singh’s brother is learnt to work for a leading Indian business house.

“Our analysis is based on the call detail examination of the accused person and their meeting with the suspect,” said a top CBI official.

The agency is also investigating a meeting in Mumbai between Col Singh and the vice-chancellor of a leading university.

Apart from Col Kulbir Singh, the CBI has arrested Col A K Singh, who headed the NDA recruitment board. Raids across the country have yielded Rs 1.71 crore.
CBI finds ‘money trail’ in NDA scam, seeks to grill Lt Gen