One more scam: ex-min, ex-army chief accused

After receipt of the report from Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna, Army Chief Gen V K Singh on Wednesday indicated CBI probe could be recommended into the incident of 2007 when Rao Inderjit Singh was the Minister and Gen Deepak Kapoor was the Army Chief.

Khanna has alleged in a report to the Army Headquarters that the plot of land in Kandivali-Malad area in Mumbai,, which was with Army on lease, was sold "illegally" to a private builder in 2007 at the intervention of Inderjit Singh and Gen Kapoor, Army sources said today.

In his report which has been forwarded by the Army to the Ministry, the Pune-based Army Commander has recommended a proper investigation into the entire issue.

"We have received the report and we are examining it," Defence Minister A K Antony said here.

The Army Chief hinted at recommending a CBI probe in the alleged scam.

"We have received the report from the Southern Army Commander... We will have to do something of that sort," he said when asked if the Army was planning to order a CBI probe into the scam.

Rao Inderjit Singh denied any wrongdoing on his part.

He contended that his alleged note was dated November 2007 while the land was sold by Maharashtra government in June 2007 and possession was given in July 2007. "How can a note written after four months after the transfer affect transaction," he asked when his reaction was sought.

Gen Kapoor was not immediately available for comment.

The land in question belongs to the state government and had been on rent with the Central Ordnance Depot since 1942.