Govt defends decision to award Padma to Chatwal

New Delhi, Jan 28: Following the controversy raised by the Padma Bhusan award given to Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, government on Wednesday, Jan 28 filed a clarification on the decision.

Taking note of the media reports, which criticised the government for awarding the the fraud-tainted NRI, the government stressed that 'due diligence' was done before selection.

The CBI had closed three cases of financial irregularities against him, the government release said, praising Chatwal as a 'tireless advocate' of India's interests in the US.

Clearing the air on the allegations of five financial irregularities cases against Chatwal, the statement informed, "Three of these cases were closed by CBI itself while charge sheets were filed by the CBI in two cases before the Court of Special Judge, CBI, Mumbai. In these two cases, the Court discharged Chatwal."

"No Padma award is conferred except on the recommendation of the Awards Committee constituted for the purpose and after the due diligence has been done," the release stated.

OneIndia News