The Indian Naval Task Group comprising IN Shivalik and Kadmatt under the command of Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Fleet. (representative image)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday sought approval from the Union government to invoke the Official Secrets Act in the wake of leaks of sensitive documents and other related information related to the acquisition of three hulls of submarines being discussed in the Navy. said.
On 2 September, the CBI raided retired naval officers Commodore Randeep Singh and Commander Satwinder Jeet Singh, after learning that the latter were going to share important details relating to a meeting in the Navy on the purchase of “three hulls”. .
SJ Singh, who was working in the Directorate of Submarine Acquisition (DSMAQ) before taking up the VRS on July 31, 2021, allegedly provided regular information of internal deliberations to Randeep Singh in return for pecuniary benefits, the FIR alleges. has been applied.
The agency accused both officers of receiving illegal money for themselves as well as others by sharing “secret information in internal files for processing and passing of tenders relating to procurement and maintenance” of the Navy with private international companies. Is. to FIR.
The CBI alleged that SJ Singh was leaking “internal information regarding operations/procurements from various offices of the Navy” to Randeep Singh, who was acting as a middleman in return for huge bribes.
The FIR alleged that the CBI had received an input that on August 16, Randeep Singh had sought “main report of the meeting held at the Naval Office regarding the purchase of three hulls” from SJ Singh.
SJ Singh demanded clearance of his past dues from Randeep Singh before handing over the documents related to the meeting, it alleged.
The statement said that Randeep Singh had promised SJ Singh that his previous dues of Rs 2.9 lakh would be cleared in the September 2 meeting.
During the searches, the CBI had initially registered a case of corruption, having recovered sensitive documents related to at least two naval projects, following which the Official Secrets Act was recommended to be invoked in the matter, he said. .
The CBI mentioned this in the special court during the hearing on the bail of the accused on Tuesday.
Last week, the CBI had filed two charge sheets – one against Randeep Singh and SJ Singh and the other against Commander Ajit Kumar Pandey, three officers of Hyderabad-based Allen Reinforced Plastics Ltd and the company besides two retired officers. in the first chargesheet
Named in the chargesheet are TP Shastri, executive director of the Hyderabad-based firm, and directors NB Rao and K Chandrasekhar.
The CBI has arrested six people – two accused retired officers, Pandey, another serving officer under him and two private persons – in an operation that began on September 3.
Officials said the agency filed the chargesheet within 60 days of the first arrest on September 3 to ensure that the accused do not get bail easily.
One of the detained naval officers is not named in the chargesheet and may be named in the supplementary chargesheet to be filed soon.
CBI has to file chargesheet within 60 days of arrest of accused in corruption cases, otherwise they become eligible for bail. The limit for special offense cases is 90 days.
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Read also: CBI arrested 5 including Commander rank naval officer for leaking confidential information
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