Navy Investigating Bribery Allegations against Officials: Antony
Defence Minister AK Antony has said that the Navy ordered an investigation into allegations of bribery against its officers which Indinan Ambassador to US Meera Shankar made in her letter to Prime Minister’s Office.
“I can assure you the government will take it (the allegations) seriously. On the Navy’s part, they have already taken it seriously and have started investigation. We will not ignore it,” said Antony.
He was spekaing on the sidelines of the four-day Navy Commanders Conference that commenced in New Delhi.
However, the minister declined to comment further on the letter, saying that since it was addressed to someone else, he had not seen or read it so far.
At the same time, Antony said that the allegations made in the letter were not only against Navy officers but were also against seven other Indian departments.
It may be mentioned that Shankar, in her letter to PM’s Principal Secretary TKA Nair on May 12, had alleged that an agent of US firm York International Corporation had paid off Rs 61 lakh as bribe to Navy officers between 2000 and 2006 for placing over 200 orders with the global heating and air conditioning firm.
The letter also talks about seven other Indian agencies such as Maharashtra Electricity Board, Indian Railway and Central Insecticides Board officials too having received kickbacks from other US firms.
