PIL alleges scam in resettlement schemes for jawans

PIL alleges scam in resettlement schemes for jawans 

Delhi High Court seeks government reply on PIL seeking CBI probe
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 15
Alleging large-scale misappropriation in the collection and deposit of provident fund contribution, insurance subscription and service tax collected from Army personnel reemployed under schemes of the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR), a public interest litigation (PIL) has sought an inquiry into the matter by the CBI.

Admitting the PIL, the Delhi High Court has directed the government and other respondents concerned to file a reply to the averments mentioned therein.

The PIL has alleged that crores of rupees collected from reemployed personnel under the aforementioned heads have not been deposited with the government, even though receipts and “fake challans” for the same were issued to individuals.

“The DGR promulgated various second career schemes wherein huge margins were deliberately kept, thereby making it a business where exorbitant amount could be earned. As a result, officers of the rank of major general and lieutenant general and equivalent from the three services were lured to register for second career even at the age of 59-61 years,” the PIL states.

“The DGR and its officials, under a pre-planned criminal conspiracy made the rules such that by way of which they virtually controlled the whole beneficiaries in a manner that their dictates/rules became the reason of corruption, apart from the other forgeries which survived due to their connivance,” the PIL further alleges.

The PIL also points out that in response to a retired officer pursuing the matter through the Central Information Commission (CIC), it was observed by the CIC the appellant had filed an affidavit crystalising the alleged glaring irregularities, violations, variations and improprieties in the functioning of the office of DGR.

Though the CIC does has any vigilance role, even so, the commission cannot ignore the allegations, how-so-ever misplaced or frivolous, leveled by a retired Army officer on affidavit and it deemed it expedient to request the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, to have an inquiry caused into the matter and take action as deemed fit.

The CIC was intimated that the matter had been referred to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the allegations made by the applicant were true which required professional investigation by a competent investigating agency.

The report of the committee was put up to Secretary, Ex-servicemen’s Welfare and even to the Raksha Mantri and that after obtaining orders of the competent authority, reference was made to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for entrusting the said matter to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office. Information was sought information from SFIO and it was intimated that they, however, are not carrying our any investigations into the matter.

Source : Tribune