Three officials found guilty in Tehelka expose

NEW DELHI, MAY 26. The one-man Defence Ministry probe conducted by the Chief Vigilance Officer, Mr. R.P. Bagai, has prima facie found three civilian officials - Mr. H.C. Pant, Mr. Narendra Singh and Mr. P. Sasi - guilty of corruption and misconduct in the Tehelka expose. The Bagai inquiry committee submitted its report to the Defence Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, on Wednesday for further action, highly placed sources in the Defence Ministry said.

Mr. Pant, an officer of Deputy Secretary rank and at present posted as staff officer in the Ordnance Factory Board, Mr. Narendra Singh, assistant financial adviser in the Ministry and Mr. Sasi, an assistant in the Army headquarters, are already under suspension.

A Defence Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the committee had submitted its report but refused to divulge the findings, saying the report would now be scrutinised by the Minister before initiating action. Asked whether the former additional secretary in the Ministry, Mr. L.N. Mehta, who also figured in the Tehelka tapes, had been indicted by the committee, the spokesperson said he was not aware of the findings of the committee. Mr. Mehta, a senior Haryana cadre IAS officer, since has been transferred as an adviser in the Planning Commission. The Tehelka had videotaped Mr. Pant receiving bribes of Rs. 50,000 in three instalments, Mr. Sasi getting Rs. 20,000 and Mr. Narendra Singh Rs. 10,000.

The inquiry committee was set up on March 22 to probe the role of civilian officials in the expose and was also asked to submit a report on any shortcomings in the armament procurement procedures. The committee sought an extension for a month in April. A parallel three-member army court of inquiry which probed the involvement of senior serving army officers has already submitted its report to the western army commander, Lt. Gen. Surjit Singh.

- PTI

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