After an in-house inquiry detected irregularities in the resettlement of ex-servicemen, Union defence minister A.K. Antony has referred the case to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the corporate affairs ministry.
A defence ministry spokesperson stated that the decision was taken after an in-house inquiry report suggested that Directorate General Resettlement officials flouted norms and guidelines of various schemes and were involved in administrative improprieties.
“The defence ministry has decided to request ministry of corporate affairs to hand over to SFIO the case relating to a private company Ex-Servicemen Airlink Transport Services Pvt Ltd (EATS) for further investigation,” the spokesperson said. The SFIO will investigate the report submitted to the defence minister earlier this month. One of these schemes relates to providing security services to central public sector undertakings through security agencies run by ex-servicemen. The inquiry into the matter was conducted by a joint secretary-level officer.
“To ensure transparency in functioning of Directorate General Resettlement office, defence minister Antony has also initiated a series of measures after the inquiry found substance in allegations regarding subletting of security agencies and obtaining multiple benefits by few ex-servicemen officers,” the spokesperson added.
DGR is under the department of ex-servicemen welfare, which is responsible for training and rehabilitation of retired defence personnel and ex-servicemen through various self employment schemes.