Scorpene deal official faces funds misuse charges

The Defence Ministry has initiated a probe against financial irregularities allegedly committed by a naval commander looking after the manufacturing of six Scorpene submarines at Mazgaon dock in Mumbai.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh said a complaint was received alleging financial irregularities against a former director in charge of Scorpene submarine project. The complaint was under enquiry.

Though the minister did not disclose the nature of complaint, sources said it was linked to a string of financial irregularities allegedly committed by the officer in his personal capacity and not linked to the submarine programme, which was already delayed by three years.