Ex-contractor facing CBI probe is Gen V K Singh’s ‘political attache’

Shyamlal Yadav.

Union Minister of State Gen (retd) V K Singh has appointed Shambhu Prasad Singh, a controversial former defence contractor who was arrested by the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing last year, as his political attache.

While Shambhu is facing trial in a disproportionate assets case registered by the CBI in 2002, the agency also filed a preliminary enquiry (PE) against him in January this year.

In a letter to then Ghaziabad District Magistrate S V S Rangarao on June 6, which has been accessed by The Indian Express, V K Singh said, “I have appointed Dr S P Singh as my political attache, whose task is to interact with district and other administrative functionaries, to resolve the issues of the constituents of Ghaziabad.” The former Army Chief won the Lok Sabha elections from Ghaziabad.

While V K Singh was not available for comment despite several calls and text messages sent by The Indian Express, Shambhu said, “I am neither OSD nor his personal staff in any ministry. I am just assisting him in his constituency, Ghaziabad.”

In his new role, Shambhu visits Ghaziabad over the weekends, listens to the problems of local workers and residents, and acts as the liaison between V K Singh and the local administration. Sometimes, he invites some for meetings at Akbar Bhawan, Shashtri Bhawan or Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, where V K Singh has his offices as MoS of three different departments — Development of Northeastern Region (independent charge), External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs.

On the cases against him, Shambhu said, “I am a victim of a conspiracy hatched by a former top officer of the Delhi Police who has tried to malign my image because I always tried to expose his immoral activities, including his relationships with various nefarious men and women, as well as his activities of extorting money through the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing.”

Booked for cheating and forgery in February last year, Shambhu was arrested on May 8, 2013. His arrest followed a complaint filed by Anil Dhanraj Jethani, a businessman, who alleged that Shambhu had sold him a property in New Delhi. According to the complaint, after Jethani paid the money, he came to know that Shambhu had already leased the property to a third party, an NGO, National Thinkers Forum, which was run by himself.

CBI sources said the PE against Shambhu was filed in January this year in connection with a 2011 case, in which two companies belonging to his Rely Group — Dynamic Shells and Sai Baba Builders & Consultants — were alleged to have been involved in financial irregularities and provided fake bank guarantees to the Assam Rifles.

While the Delhi Police is yet to file a chargesheet against him, Shambhu said he has filed an appeal in the high court for quashing the cases against him.

via The Indian Express

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Poll panel to VK Singh: Don't call yourself Army Chief

Purusharth Aradhak. 

Following complaints lodged against General (Retired) VK Singh, the former Army chief and BJP's candidate from Ghaziabad, election commission watchdogs have warned him to not introduce himself as the Army general. The department is also probing another complaint received against Singh regarding a violation of the code of conduct by holding meetings without prior permission.

R K Singh, Ghaziabad's ADM and election officer, said that the administration had received complaints alleging Singh claiming to be the Army chief during his campaigns despite having retired. "There were complaints that V K Singh was introducing himself as the Army chief. Acting on the complaints, we have warned him. If he continues to use the title, then stringent action will be taken and an FIR will be lodged against him," said Singh.

The election officer also said that a probe into the former Army chief was ongoing in regard to alleged violation of the code of conduct. "He reportedly held a public meeting in Kavi Nagar without permission. We received a complaint from police," said the ADM, adding that the cops had told the administration that the BJP party office contained eight loudspeakers and three huge hoardings.

"We have formed a team to probe the complaint and they are scanning video footage. Once they submit the report, we will decide on a further course of action," said Singh.

Meanwhile, the Gautam Budh Nagar district administration served a notice on BJP candidate Dr Mahesh Sharma for holding a meeting without the administration's permission.

The meeting was held without the administration's permission.

We have served a showcause notice and if we do not receive a satisfactory answer stiff action will be taken against him,' said Chandrashekhar, GB Nagar's ADM.

Earlier, the Ghaziabad administration had booked BSP candidate Mukul Upadhyay for holding a meeting in Nasirpur village without permission.

via The Times of India

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Summons issued to Gen V K Singh for failing to appear before J&K panel

Former Army chief Gen V K Singh on Thursday failed to appear before a Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council panel over his controversial remarks against state leaders, after which fresh summons were issued to him for January 22.

Singh failed to appear before the Privileges Committee to explain his position on his allegations that politicians in the state were paid by the Army, prompting the panel to issue a summons to him through the Haryana DGP.

However, an aide of Singh claimed that he had written to the Privileges Committee, which did not accept his reply and asked him to appear before it in person.

"The committee, under the chairmanship of Jugal Kishore Sharma, has decided to issue summons to him (Singh) through the Haryana Director General of Police to appear before this Committee on 22nd of this month at 2:30pm," member of the privilege committee, Devender Singh Rana told reporters after the conclusion of the meeting here.

Rana, who is a ruling National Conference MLC and chief minister Omar Abdullah's confidante, said "failing this, necessary action under law which is available to us will be taken against him."

Col U B Singh, a friend of Gen Singh, however, told reporters at the Legislative Council, "Singh had sent a proper reply to the Privilege Committee. But they have not taken it into consideration and refused to accept it."

When Rana was asked about this, he said "There is no reply we have received as yet."

On December 9, last year, Privileges Committee had asked Singh to appear in person before it on January 9 to explain his position on his controversial remarks.

The privilege motion against Gen Singh was moved by MLCs Ajay Sadhotra, Rana and Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy in the last session of the Council, taking cognisance of his allegations during a TV interview in which he had claimed that Army was paying money to politicians in Jammu and Kashmir.

via The Times of India

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