Fraud Investigation Office to probe irregularities in Directorate General Resettlement

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister A K Antony has decided to ask the Serious Fraud Investigation Office under the Corporate Affairs Ministry to probe alleged irregularities in the Directorate General Resettlement ( DGR) for ex-servicemen.

The decision to seek the Fraud Investigation Office's assistance was taken after an inquiry report suggested that DGR officials flouted norms and guidelines of various schemes and were involved in administrative improprieties, Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said here.

"Defence Ministry has decided to request Ministry of Corporate Affairs to hand over to SFIO the case relating to a private company Ex-Servicemen Airlink Transport Services Pvt Ltd (EATS) for further investigation," he said.

To ensure transparency in functioning of DGR office, the Defence Ministry has also initiated a series of measures after the inquiry found substance in allegations regarding subletting of security agencies and obtaining multiple benefits by few ex-servicemen officers, Kar said.

"The essence of inquiry and its analysis is that in the last couple of years efforts have been made to introduce transparency in the manner of the functioning of DGR office," he said.

DGR is attached with the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, which is responsible for training and rehabilitation of retired defence personnel and ex-servicemen through various self employment schemes.

One of these schemes relate to providing security services to central public sector undertakings through security agencies run by ex-servicemen.

The inquiry into the matter was conducted by a Joint Secretary-level officer and was submitted to the Defence Minister earlier this month.