One more scam; ex-minister, ex-army chief accused

New Delhi, Jan 12 (PTI) The Defence Ministry appears tohave been hit by yet another scam allegedly involving a formerMinister of State for Defence Production and former ArmyChief, with a top army commander saying they they hadfacilitated "illegal" sale of a prime piece of land in Mumbai.

After receipt of the report from Southern Army CommanderLt Gen Pradeep Khanna, Army Chief Gen V K Singh todayindicated CBI probe could be recommended into the incident of2007 when Rao Inderjit Singh was the Minister and Gen DeepakKapoor was the Army Chief.

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

In his report which has been forwarded by the Army tothe Ministry, the Pune-based Army Commander has recommended aproper 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 thealleged scam.

"We have received the report from the Southern ArmyCommander... We will have to do something of that sort," hesaid when asked if the Army was planning to order a CBI probeinto the scam.

Rao Inderjit Singh denied any wrongdoing on his part.

He contended that his alleged note was dated November2007 while the land was sold by Maharashtra government in June2007 and possession was given in July 2007. "How can a notewritten after four months after the transfer affecttransaction," he asked when his reaction was sought.

Gen Kapoor was not immediately available for comment.

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