MUMBAI, July 2:
Another serving Army Colonel was arrested in connection with the recruitment scam at the prestigious National Defence Academy, raising the number of those nabbed by the CBI in this case to eight.
In a statement, the CBI said that Colonel A K Singh, physical training officer and presiding officer of the board appointed by NDA for recruitment, was arrested.
“Singh was arrested after a special CBI court in Pune rejected his anticipatory bail plea. Searches are being carried out at Singh’s residence in Purnia and Saharsa district,” the CBI said.
Singh is the second serving colonel to be arrested. Earlier anti-corruption wing of CBI had arrested seven others in the scam, which included Colonel Kulbir Singh.
Col Kulbir Singh was a staff officer to a NDA commandant, Suhas Shankar Waghmare, Establishment Officer of NDA.
During searches last week in this case, the CBI claimed to have recovered Rs 1.76 crore cash and a list of candidates’ names and interview letters and also a list of those who had paid bribe.
The others arrested were NDA employee Ramesh Gaikwad, Bal Kishen Kanojia – who runs a food stall in Pune, his employee Vishnu Sharma and two alleged touts Manoj Sheetal Kar and Dattatre Sheetal Kar.
Meanwhile, a special CBI court in Pune extended the CBI custody of Kulbir Singh, Kanojia, Sharma and Ramesh Gaikwad till July 5. The two touts Manoj and Dattatre were, however, released on bail.
According to the CBI, Col Singh in conspiracy with the other accused obtained illegal gratification of Rs 3-4 lakh from each candidate to give them appointments for subordinate staff like cooks, gardeners, lab attendants, library attendants and cadet orderly.
The accused persons had allegedly taken signatures of those candidates, who had agreed to pay the bribe, on blank sheets and later filled them with correct answers. (PTI)
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