Navy to speed up probe against officer in Gorkshov project: Antony

NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday said he has asked the Indian Navy to speed up the probe into allegations against an officer accused of “loose moral conduct” during his posting in Russia to oversee the re-fit of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.

He said the navy has completed one part of the investigation against Commodore Sukhjinder Singh, and the second part has been started.

“As the navy completes its investigation a decision will be taken. I have asked the navy to speed up the probe. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions,” he added.

A board of inquiry, headed by a vice admiral, was ordered 10 days ago after “objectionable” photographs involving Singh and a Russian woman surfaced.

According to sources, the probe into Singh’s alleged involvement with a Russian woman is over. The navy is now investigating to ascertain his proximity with some Russians and if it was in any way linked to the problems associated with the Gorshkov project, including the cost escalation and delay in the ship’s delivery.

Singh was deputed to Russia to supervise re-fitting and other technical requirements of the carrier, which has been renamed INS Vikramaditya. He was stationed there from 2005 to 2007.

India last month cleared the $2.35 billion revised price for the carrier.

The warship, originally purchased for $1.5 billion, is currently undergoing a refit at Russia’s Sevmash shipyard. Of the total cost, $974 million was meant for the refit and the balance for a squadron of MiG-29K combat jets that will be deployed on the vessel.

Citing additional costs for the refit, Moscow jacked up the price to $2.9 billion. However, New Delhi wanted the price to be reduced to $2.1 billion. The revised price was decided during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi last month.

Ask about the possibility of involving the armed forces in tackling the Maoist menace, Antony said: “The government will take an appropriate decision after considering all aspects.”

He was speaking on the sidelines of a Unified Commanders conference in the national capital.