Defence Ministry may seek report from IDS on NDA job scam

NEW DELHI: Unhappy over alleged involvement of a Colonel in a recruitment scam at the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Defence Ministry has taken cognisance of the issue and is likely to seek a detailed report from the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).

On Saturday, the CBI had arrested Col Kulbir Singh along with five others for allegedly receiving bribe from candidates during recruitment drive at the NDA.

The Pune-based training institution in under the purview of the tri-services IDS manned by officers from the army, navy and the air force.

The Defence Ministry is unhappy over the fact that Staff Officer of the Commandant of the prestigious NDA was allegedly involved in the recruitment scam and may seek a detailed report from the IDS in this regard, sources said here.

The Colonel is posted as staff officer to commandant of NDA Lt Gen Jatinder Singh. They said IDS Chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha had also met Defence Minister A K Antony in his office today.

Another key officer of the NDA Suhas Shankar Waghmare was arrested by CBI on Monday night over allegations that he had taken money from over 15 candidates in the alleged recruitment scam.

The CBI has alleged that Col Singh in conspiracy with the other accused had obtained illegal gratification of Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh from each candidate to give them appointment for subordinate staff like cooks, gardeners, lab attendants, library attendants and cadet orderly.

The accused persons had allegedly taken signatures of those candidates, who had agreed to pay the bribe, on blank sheets and later filled them with correct answers, it said.