<div>A minister in the NDA government has fuelled the rumours of graft allegations against a senior Army officer due for retirement this month.<br /><br />Since last week, the Army headquarters was agog with unconfirmed reports on the alleged case of corruption involving a senior officer, who looks after promotions, transfers and postings in the service. The rumours have also found their ways to the social media, triggering more speculations.<br /><br />While the Army flatly denied those charges describing them as “false and malicious”, former Army Chief Gen V K Singh (rtd) stoked the fire when he demanded action against the officer. Asked for his comments, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated he would discuss the matter with Singh.<br /><br />Using his verified twitter account, the minister of state for external affairs on Wednesday commented, “Shame is too small to describe this. Raksha Mantri must come down hard to cleanse the system.” <br /><br />It was not Gen VK Singh's tweet, but his comment made on another tweet. Singh brought up the same issue in another letter, emailed to the editor of a newspaper, in a different context. <br /><br />This letter too is available in the social media. There is no formal denial from the minister as yet.<br /><br />Defence ministry officials claim Parrikar is aware of the controversy and looking into the charges, though no formal enquiry has been instituted. The future course of action in the case would be decided once Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag returns next week from his visit to Russia.<br /><br />The senior officer's long absence from his office in the capital apparently was one of the triggers behind the rumour. But according to the Army, the officer was visiting the units on the eve of his retirement – a standard practice in the Army.<br /></div>
<div>A minister in the NDA government has fuelled the rumours of graft allegations against a senior Army officer due for retirement this month.<br /><br />Since last week, the Army headquarters was agog with unconfirmed reports on the alleged case of corruption involving a senior officer, who looks after promotions, transfers and postings in the service. The rumours have also found their ways to the social media, triggering more speculations.<br /><br />While the Army flatly denied those charges describing them as “false and malicious”, former Army Chief Gen V K Singh (rtd) stoked the fire when he demanded action against the officer. Asked for his comments, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stated he would discuss the matter with Singh.<br /><br />Using his verified twitter account, the minister of state for external affairs on Wednesday commented, “Shame is too small to describe this. Raksha Mantri must come down hard to cleanse the system.” <br /><br />It was not Gen VK Singh's tweet, but his comment made on another tweet. Singh brought up the same issue in another letter, emailed to the editor of a newspaper, in a different context. <br /><br />This letter too is available in the social media. There is no formal denial from the minister as yet.<br /><br />Defence ministry officials claim Parrikar is aware of the controversy and looking into the charges, though no formal enquiry has been instituted. The future course of action in the case would be decided once Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag returns next week from his visit to Russia.<br /><br />The senior officer's long absence from his office in the capital apparently was one of the triggers behind the rumour. But according to the Army, the officer was visiting the units on the eve of his retirement – a standard practice in the Army.<br /></div>
