V K Singh now faces CBI probe into functioning of Army’s secret unit: report

Days after former Army chief General VK Singh shared the dais with Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to espouse the cause of ex-servicemen in the country, the Army is alleged to have recommended a probe into the functioning of a secret intelligence unit that he set up as the Army chief.

The government is reported to be planning to order a CBI inquiry into the alleged unauthorised operations and financial wrongdoings of the secret intelligence unit that the former general set up as the then Army chief.

General VK Singh, who is also reported to be under the government's scanner for allegedly trying to topple the Jammu and Kashmir government, however, rubbished such charges and said he would seek legal help.

Talking to reporters, the former Army chief said that he was going through legal options, but refused to comment on the Army's recommendation for a probe against him.

The Technical Services Division (TSD), set up by V K Singh as the then Army chief, is alleged to have been misused by V K Singh as per a report of the Army's board of enquiry.

The facts brought out in the report are ''extremely sensitive'' and any person, retired or serving, if found to have involved in the matter, will be strictly proceeded against, information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.

''The contents of the report, which have been mentioned in a newspaper, are under active consideration of the government. If any malfeasance is found against any serving or retired officer, appropriate action would be initiated.

''The government has also put in place measures to ensure that there is never ever a repeat of some of the things. which have allegedly been mentioned in the report,'' Tewari said.

TSD allegedly illegally tapped phones of senior defence ministry officials, as per an Army report submitted to the defence ministry recently.

A newspaper quoting the report, meanwhile, said Gen Singh had misused the secret service funds to destabilise the Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir.

The report also said funds were misused for paying off an NGO to try change the line of succession in the Army top brass, to buy off-air interception equipment and to conduct ''unauthorised'' covert operations.