Re-examine former RAW officer's plea on graft, CBI court told
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has asked a special CBI court here to re-examine the complaint of Major General (retd.) V.K. Singh alleging corruption in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Special Protection Group (SPG) in purchase of electronic equipment.
Justice Indermeet Kaur set aside the October 2012 order of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court which had rejected Singh's plea for a probe by the agency into alleged corruption in procurement of ultra and very high frequency (UHF/VHF) antennae and other equipment, saying that the court "lacked authority" to issue such order.
Sending the matter to the CBI court, the high court said: "Matter is remanded back to the special judge who will consider as to whether the present case is a fit case for directing registration of an FIR under section 156(3) CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) or not."
Maj. Gen. Singh in August 2009 moved a trial court seeking directions to the CBI to lodge an FIR and investigate the instances of corruption against RAW and SPG.
The special CBI court dismissed Singh' plea, saying it lacks authority to issue directions, but noted that the "applicant (Singh) had no personal axe to grind and had interest of the nation in mind and wanted specific instances of corruption in premier agency looking after defence and safety of the nation, investigated."
The CBI earlier in its status report filed before the special CBI court April 16, 2012, stated that none of the allegations relating to corruption in procurement of VHF/UHF Antenna by RAW could be substantiated. It, however, admitted that "there were irregularities/ inadequacies in processing case of procurement of technical equipments".
Singh in 2007 wrote a book titled "India's External Intelligence - Secrets of the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW)" based on his service in RAW as joint secretary, in which he also alleged corruption in the spy agency.