New Delhi, July 4
Defence Minister AK Antony today ordered the immediate removal of Pune’s National Defence Academy Commandant Lt Gen Jatinder Singh days after the CBI unearthed a jobs-for-cash scam there.

“This (the Commandant’s removal) is with the view to ensure a free and fair investigation in the alleged bribery racket in the recruitment of Group ‘C’ posts in the 
NDA,” a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.

The CBI today arrested Colonel AK Singh, a Physical Training Officer, at the NDA. He is the Presiding Officer of the Board appointed by the Academy to select subordinate staff. Colonel Singh was produced before the Special Judge in Pune, the CBI said.

The decision to transfer Lt Gen Singh from the NDA and the arrest of Colonel AK Singh comes 10 days after the CBI busted a recruitment scam at the NDA.

On June 24, the CBI had arrested six persons, including a serving Colonel, for allegedly receiving bribe for allegedly taking bribes of Rs 3-4 lakh per candidate for subordinate staff jobs, including those of cooks and gardeners. The CBI had claimed to have recovered Rs 1.76 crore from different locations in connection with the case. Among those arrested ten days ago was Colonel Kulbir Singh, staff officer to NDA Commandant Lt Gen Jatinder Singh.

The CBI had said, “The Staff Officer, in conspiracy with the other accused, obtained illegal gratification of Rs 3-4 lakh from each candidate to appoint them as cooks, gardeners, lab attendants, library attendants and cadet orderly."

The accused had allegedly taken signature of candidates on blank answersheets and subsequently filled in correct answers by fraudulent means. Thus, the actual deserving candidates were cheated.

Ever since New Army Chief Bikram Singh took over on June 1, he has kept his promise “nothing will be brushed under the carpet”. Besides this case, action has been taken against a Brigadier who was taking loans from his juniors.