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Navy to probe Indian envoy's allegation of corruption: Antony |
Defence Minister A K Antony said
here on Thursday that the Indian Navy will conduct a probe into allegations made
against its officers by Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar in her letter
to the Prime Minister's Principal Secretary, T.K.A.Nair. Interacting with media
on the sidelines of a Naval Commanders Conference here, Antony said: "I can assure
you the government will take the allegations seriously. On the Navy's part, they
have already taken it seriously and have started an investigation. We will not
ignore it." In her letter to Nair, in May this year, Ambassador Shankar had informed
about reports of corruption between US companies and Indian officials. Refusing
to comment on Shankar's letter, Antony said since it was addressed to someone
else, he had not seen or read it. He, however, added that the allegations were
not only against the Navy officers, but also against seven other Indian public
sector companies. Ambassador Shankar cited a bribe of 132,500 dollars given to
Indian Navy officials by a US firm York International Corporation's agent. York
International Corporation is a global provider of heating, air conditioning and
refrigeration products. The money was transferred over a period of six years between
2000 and 2006 for placing 215 orders. The most serious allegation pertained to
corruption in the Indian Navy. According to the letter, various subsidiaries of
York International Corporation, made improper payments totaling over 7.5 million
dollars to secure orders in West Asia, China, Nigeria, Europe and India. The allegations
are not without basis as York has already agreed to pay fines slapped on them
for improper payments made overseas to secure contracts. Along with the Indian
Navy Ambassador Shankar named the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, the Indian
Railways, the Central Insecticides Board for accepting kickbacks from Mario Covino
of Control Company, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation and Dow Chemicals respectively. |
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