Inquiry Established Navy Officer Had Connection with Russian Woman: Antony

Defence Minister A K Antony has said that a Navy enquiry has established that a senior officer had connections with a Russian woman but it is yet to be found out if the link influenced the price hike of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier, said media reports.

Commodore Sukhjinder Singh, in charge of the Gorshkov refit project in Russia between 2005 and 2007, was part of the cost negotiation committee that settled a revised price of USD 2.33 billion for the Kiev class aircraft carrier’s refit at a Russian shipyard.

“Navy has completed one part of its investigations and they have just started the second part of the investigations. The particular man (Com Singh) had some relations with the other side…a lady. That part has been established. Nothing beyond that is proved so far. Let the Navy complete the investigation,” Antony was quoted as saying while talking to reporters.

“The Navy is taking special care to speed up the investigation (into Com Singh’s liaison) As soon as the investigation is complete, we will take a decision. I do not want to jump to conclusions (before the probe is over),” he was quoted as saying

The minister made the remarks after addressing the inaugural session of the two-day armed forces’ Unified Commanders Conference.

He said that he had instructed the Navy to accelerate the probe ‘as quickly as possible’, said reports.

“They (Navy) are at it. Prematurely I do not want to jump to conclusions. Let them complete it (the probe),” he was quoted as saying.

A week ago, a set of ‘objectionable’ photographs of the officer along with the Russian woman was received which led to a probe into the matter and the Navy yesterday submitted its Board of Inquiry report.

Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma is now scrutinising the report to recommend a suitable punishment to be awarded to the officer to the Defence Ministry.

(Based on internet reports)