Navy still awaits order from Defence Ministry on Singh

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) Indian Navy is still awaitingnecessary instructions from Defence Ministry to issuedischarge orders to Commodore Sukhjinder Singh, who has beenaccused of having a relationship with a Russian women duringhis posting in Moscow.

Defence Minister A K Antony has said that the officerwould be sacked from the service for his immoral conduct. Hemade the announcement on February 5, during the inductionceremony of C-130J Super Hercules transport plane.

"The Naval Headquarters has yet not received the filewith the order to sack the officer. The process to relieve himof his duties would begin as soon as we receive the file,"said a naval officer on condition of anonymity.

Commodore Singh developed the relationship with thelady when he was posted in Russia from 2005 to 07 to supervisethe refit program of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

Meanwhile, in that absence of any official orders fromthe Defence Ministry, the Naval Headquarters is also not clearabout the post-discharge status of the officer.

"Issues related to his pension, rank and otherbenefits would also be settled down only after we receive thefile and the related instructions," the officer added.

Singh''s relationship came out in open in April 2010,when some dailies published his photographs with the woman.

Following the newspaper reports and the photographs-which were also used as crucial evidence to nail the officer-Singh was relieved of his duties.

After coming back to India in 2007, he was posted inNaval Headquarters as the Principal Director (Aircraft CarrierProject).

In 2009, he was posted to Defence Ministry and servedthere till 2010 in the office of Directorate General ofQuality Assurance (DGQA).