Growing Corruption in Defense: Army Chief in New Controversy

Indian Army Chief General VK Singh has blown the lid off defense corruption in India by suggesting in an interview to The Hindu. The General Singh had claimed in media interviews that a lobbyist, who had "just" retired, offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a file relating to purchase of a tranche of 600 "sub-standard" vehicles of a particular make and he had immediately informed Defense Minister A K Antony about the same.
In his explanation through the media he has said that by not addressing the main issue of his date of birth, the Supreme Court has created more confusion. It is clear he did not accept the court verdict in the spirit it was delivered. Instead, after the verdict he has dragged in former Army Chief General JJ Singh, calling him the main architect of the date of birth controversy.
Undoubtedly, the Army chief has committed a few improprieties — not taking up his age issue as upfront as he did when he became the Chief of Army Staff (COAS); making a patently erroneous distinction between his personal case and the office of the COAS; filing a statutory complaint against the government and setting an unhealthy trend among the rank-and-file of questioning lawful authority; and, on rejection of his statutory complaint, taking the government to court. To cap it all, he did not put in is papers even after he lost his case in court.
The Czech-origin Tatra multi-wheeled vehicles, manufactured by a public sector unit under license, were being supplied to the Army for the past 25 years. If the quality of the vehicle was indeed unsatisfactory, why did the Army never complain in writing? What is more, it is said that only one vendor has supplied the vehicle to the Army since 1986 and enjoyed a virtual monopoly. Why was then a bribe needed to be paid to General Singh? While General Singh’s insinuation that at least some of his predecessors might have been bribed to keep quiet about the quality of the vehicle has stirred the hornet’s nest, the retired officer named by the Army chief has denied the allegation and any interest in the vehicle, claiming that he has been engaged in only real estate and mining since his retirement.
Defense Ministry’s Response
The defense minister has corroborated the Army chief’s allegation of a Rs 14-crore bribe offered to him by Lieutenant General (retired) Tejinder Singh, but blamed Gen VK Singh of “inaction” in the matter.
Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of the Parliament), Antony mentioned Lieutenant General (retired) Tejinder Singh by name and said he had asked the General to act, but he did not want to pursue the matter for unknown reasons. This, and the assertion that he himself could not act as there was no written complaint from the chief were the explanations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) refused to buy.
Cases Against Army Chief and Others
Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh has filed a criminal defamation case against General Singh and others in a Delhi court, rejecting allegations that he had offered Rs 14 crore as bribe to the General to strike a defense deal.
Tejinder Singh asked the court to summon and initiate proceedings against General Singh for making the "libelous" statement in media.
In his complaint, the retired Lt General has also named Vice Chief of Army staff SK Singh, Lt Gen B S Thakur (D G MI), Major General S L Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney accusing them of misusing their official position, power and authority to level false charges against him.
Alarming Questions
The important aspect of this present controversy is that people fail to understand why did not General Singh, who enjoys a just reputation for integrity — exactly like defense minister— not have his dubious interlocutor arrested on the spot? Asked about this in a television interview, General Singh said he was too shocked as the vile suggestion was made by an officer just recently retired and was couched in indirect terms. General Singh said he went up to the defense minister right away and informed him of the distasteful episode.
What action did Antony choose to take apart from “holding his head” and instructing the chief not to let shady characters into our defense trade. Knowing our Parliament, it will probably get fixated on this issue (it must certainly investigate it though), and not pay attention to the wider (and pressing) question of corruption in defense purchases that could have the effect of selling our soldiers down the river in a military crisis.
Earlier in March 2012, the Defense Ministry banned six foreign and two Indian companies for 10 years for allegedly being involved in the payment of hefty sums to the director-general of the ordnance board to secure the contract for setting up factories to produce specialized materials for artillery shells. The firms included the Israeli government company that manages much of that country’s defense exports to India, and Israel is now India’s second largest defense exporter.
General Singh has used the bribery revelations to illustrate that he is being targeted by the establishment for ferreting out the corrupt within the system which had corroded the internal health of the Army. In graphic detail he has explained how corruption has burrowed into the innards of the Army. He has claimed that a retired unnamed officer offered him Rs 14 crore as bribe if he would clear a file. He asked him to leave and reported the matter to the defense minister.
However, the question lies: when the General B K Singh had informed the defense minister; why Antony kept mum in all these months, he should have ordered enquiry into the matter! Moreover, why the Army chief himself not lodged FIR against the person, who had offered bribe in his chamber; who prevented him how the general also kept mum? Only after the age controversy of General Singh, and the judgment going against him and now he is on verge of retirement, Singh is making public all these things? General Singh should have lodged FIR against the responsible person, who came to him personally to offer bribe! Undoubtedly, the Army chief is of impeccable character but his Defense Minister Antony is also known for honest and integrity.
Wrong Timing of Charges
Moreover, why did General Singh choose to go public with the bribery charge now and not earlier? The question is pertinent because as early as March 6, 2012, the Army put out a press release accusing a retired lieutenant. General of offering a bribe on behalf of a company that supplies trucks. Inexplicably, while the press release did not fight shy of naming the person who allegedly offered the bribe, it was silent on who he tried to induce.
General Singh should have started his crusade against bribe-givers more robustly much earlier and not at the fag end of a flagging career. It is true that he pushed the Adarsh Housing Society scandal and the Sukna land scam. But the timing of the latest revelations in The Hindu and The Economic Times is suspect. The immediate fallout from his interview and allegations is a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in which the Army chief, the unnamed General, the defense minister and officials of the Ministry will be quizzed. The Defense acquisition procedure in which the Army is worst hit will slow down even further, with more defense companies being blacklisted. Even more worrying will be the worsening state of civil-military relations, especially between the Army Headquarters and the Defense Ministry.
Positive Aspect
An officer of impeccable integrity, General Singh's attempts to crack down on corruption in the Army, particularly the Sukna land and Adarsh Housing Society scams, shows he has what it takes to be a tough reform-oriented leader. Which is what makes the seemingly casual handling of an alleged attempt to bribe him somewhat puzzling. If the defense minister did not take his complaint seriously, the Army chief could have pursued the matter in a variety of ways.
Whatever the reason for this reluctance, it is clear that the controversy over his age — a matter strictly between himself and the defense establishment — has caused collateral damage in other areas and spawned unrelated disputes that have the potential of causing divisions in the Army, particularly in the top echelons, and in the Defense Ministry between uniformed men and political leaders.
Assessment
It is abhorrent on the part of General Singh in making sweeping statements and accusations in public to sensationalize the issue rather than making appropriate moves to get the bribe inducer booked and tried with valid proof. It is high time that he stops sullying the image of the army with his politician like demeanor and brings disrepute to the exalted post he holds until he remits office.
It is really surprising why General Singh who is known for his firm stand against corruption kept mum on following up with this issue and what prompted him to open the can of worms at this point of time? He could have got this monkey off his back as soon as this issue surfaced and why waited for over an year and that too when it is time for retirement?
No investigation would change the systems which have been fine-tuned to corruption. Only a grass roots education of citizens of evils of corruption would help reduce corruption. Hope this takes place. We do not need heroes like Anna to address corruption; we need awareness programs to make a common man aware of evils of corruption. Hope we can initiate these awareness without involvement of political parties.

Corruption in Indian Army

It is said that the more security and freedom a system gets, the more apprehension there is of it being corrupt. Our Army is also no exception to it. Reports of its corruption are normally not made public, and even if they are, there are efforts to hide it or cover it up so that its "sanctity" is not harmed. Because of the Army and judiciary being considered as pure as a holy cow, we have not been able to find any effective remedy to the diseases that are taking root in them.
Had there been serious efforts made so far, there would not have been a land scam like Sukna. This scam has dealt a big blow to the Army's image. It should be noted that Military Secretary Lieutenant General Avdhesh Prakash, who is the main accused in the scam has been sent on leave just 10 days before retirement. Sending him on leave in this manner has deepened the doubt that perhaps an attempt is being made to protect him. This has also put Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor in the dock. Lieutenant General Prakash is considered to be very close to General Deepak Kapoor.

Presence of Private Agency
It has been proved in the probe that Lieutenant General Prakash used his influence to grant permission to a private contractor to build an education complex on the land adjoining the headquarters of 33rd corps in Sukna at Darjeeling. This corps is entrusted with the responsibility of keeping vigil on the Northeastern border with China. Thereby, the presence of a private agency has been called a threat from the viewpoint of security and secrecy. Three other Generals are also accused with him in the scam. In the beginning, Lieutenant General Prakash tried to hide facts and mislead the probe. Still, the Army chief recommended only strict administrative action against him, and not disciplinary action. In the same matter, it has been decided to take court martial action against one general.
Allegations were made against Lieutenant General Prakash earlier also. As military secretary, he had carried the responsibility of posting and promotion of an officer above the rank of colonel. Now that Lieutenant General Prakash is in the dock, it is but natural to raise doubt over all decisions he has made earlier. Has any compromise been made in the matter of posting on sensitive locations? This is not the only case. Other types of cases of corruption involving Army officers keep coming to the fore, from time to time. Is the dirty game of greed and partiality being played in the Army behind the glitter and glamour of discipline and regulations?
After revelation of such matters and talks about starting probe against Army officers, it is immediately said that it would have adverse impact on the morale of the Army, and anti-national forces could take advantage of it. But the corruption prevailing in the Army cannot be tolerated silently for this reason. We would have to develop some effective mechanism of dealing with it.

Possible Steps
Though Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has clarified that all possible steps would be taken to safeguard the image of armed forces, it is difficult to understand why there is delay in taking action against the officers responsible for the Sukna land scam?
Please remember this is the question that has remained unanswered for a long time. Giving Army land to a private builder cannot be called an ordinary scam. Immediate action should be taken in such matters, or the reasons for delay should be made clear.

Army Establishment
The Army establishment is also responsible for several doubts, and questions that are being raised because of delay in punishing the guilty. Such doubts and questions cannot be in the interest of the Army's image. The need is not only to take adequate action against officers found guilty in the Sukna land scam, but also to develop a mechanism so that the Army gets rid of such scams.
Undoubtedly, Army personnel are from society, but the manner in which small and big scams are surfacing every now and then for the past some time it seems that some fundamental flaw has entered the Army establishment. The reasons for why this is happening should be found out and remedial action should be taken, as soon as possible.
The Army leadership as well as the Defense Ministry should be concerned that cases of corruption in the Army are coming to the fore one after the other, with the involvement of senior officers also. It is not an ordinary incident that action is underway at the Army Headquarters against three retired generals with regard to cases of corruption.
There is no doubt that high standards of morality have been set in the Army, but it cannot be ignored that scams and corruption in areas from purchase of arms and weapons to ration, liquor, shoes, and other items have come to light in recent years. These cases of corruption indicate that there is some flaw in the process related to purchase of essential goods for the Army.

Demand of Situation
It is ironical that the Army chief had to face questions with regard to the Army's image on the eve of Army Day. It also became clear from the talks of the Army chief, who is almost at the end of his term, that he is going to hand over the task of resolving several problems on which discussion has been going on for long to his successor.
It is disappointing that for the past few years, successive Army chiefs have been promising to resolve these problems, but ultimately it is seen that these have remained unsolved. It would not be proper to hold only Army officers responsible for the problems the Army is facing, because the Defense Ministry is also responsible for it, at one level or the other.