Army to set up internal vigilance wing to check scams: Gen Singh

New Delhi, Jan 14 (ANI): Army Chief General V.K. Singh today said that an internal vigilance wing will be set up to prevent scams and corruption from occurring.

The Army's image has suffered in last two years as a series of land scams beginning with Sukna in West Bengal, the Adarsh Housing Society in Colaba in 2009 and Central Ordnance Depot land in Kandivalli.

Speaking at the annual Army Day press conference on Friday, General Singh said since he took over office on March 31, 2010 his emphasis is on "improving the internal health" of the force to stop corruption among its personnel.

Replying to a question on the numerous land scams, he said: "Though this is a very vast subject, what we are looking for is a vigilance mechanism. We do not have this (vigilance) in the Army. We now looking at having one. Of course, we do take suo motu action on a lot of issues (corruption and scams) that come up."

Commenting on what action will be taken against his predecessor General Deepak Kapoor, whose name figures in the last three land scams, General Singh said the cases have been handed over to the Defence Ministry for appropriate action.

General Kapoor's name figures in the Sukna land scam, the Adarsh Housing Society in Colaba and land adjacent to the Central Ordnance Depot Kandivali being handed over to a private developer. (ANI)