Ordnance scam: MoD says CVC cleared Ghosh

Responding to a story in The Sunday Express that the Defence Ministry had given a clean chit to Sudipta Ghosh....

Responding to a story in The Sunday Express June 7,2009 that the Defence Ministry had given a clean chit to Sudipta Ghosh,the former Ordnance Factory Board chief who has been arrested by the CBI in an alleged corruption scandal,the MoD has said that the CVC,in his second-stage advice,had advised closure of the case against Ghosh.

The MoD says: The case was inquired into as per law and established procedures. The CVC had initially advised imposition of suitable minor penalty,against the officer. This was forwarded to the charged officer to enable him to make a representation,if he so desired. The Department,taking into account the material facts,charged officers representation and the recommendations of the Chairman,OFB,was of the opinion that the charges against the officer were not conclusively proved. The Departments recommendations were sent to the CVC for the second stage advice,who,taking into account the material facts before it,agreed with the Department and advised closure off the case against the officer,by its letter dated January 12,2007. Taking into account the CVCs advice,the recommendations of the Department and OFB and the material available on record,the Competent Authority Raksha Mantri agreed to the closure of the case against the officer.

Reporter Ritu Sarin replies:

The MoDs own records,available with The Indian Express,contradict its version.

Ghosh made his representation to the MoD after the CVCs second-stage advice and not after the first-stage as is being claimed by the Ministry.

As is standard procedure with the CVC,the Inquiry Officer in the case was appointed after the first-stage advice following which the comments of Ghosh and the then OFB Chairman were sought.

The representation of Sudipta Ghosh is also with The Indian Express and the document clearly states that his views were sought after the second-stage advice of the CVC.

The three-page note of the Joint Secretary and CVO quotes the second stage advice of the CVC in para 2 and in para 10 states: It would be appropriate to request the CVC to reconsider their second stage advice and accept the view of the Department expressed earlier.

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The two-page note signed by Secretary Defence production in para 2 states: CVC did not agree with our recommendation and forwarded the second-stage advice in which they have said that a suitable minor penalty be imposed on Sudipta Ghosh.

CVC officials,contacted for clarification,confirmed the sequence of events and said they received not one but two representations from the MoD on the Ghosh case after the second-stage advice and that top MoD officials even visited the CVCs office taking the plea that Ghosh was on the verge of being appointed OFB Chairman. It was only then that the CVC agreed on his exoneration.