Antony asks Navy to speed up probe of officer's immoral conduct

New Delhi, Apr 16 (ANI): Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday said he has asked the Indian Navy to speed up the probe into allegations of immoral conduct against an officer during his posting in Russia.

Commodore Sukhjinder Singh was posted as principal director of the Admiral Gorshkov project, which is undergoing refitting in Russia.

Interacting with media on the sidelines of Unified Commanders Conference, here, Antony informed that the navy has completed one part of the investigation against Commodore Singh, and that 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 said.

The Navy's personnel department is studying the report and is likely to submit its findings to Naval Chief Asmiral Nirmal Kumar Verma and Defence Miniser Antony with suggestions for punishment for Commodore Singh.

In the first week of this month, the Indian Navy ordered for a Court of Inquiry (CoI) after objectionable photographs involving Commodore Singh and a Russian woman surfaced in a section of media.

Commodore Singh, who served in Russia from 2005 to 2007, played a crucial role in the contract for the purchase of the Admiral Gorkshov, which was renamed INS Vikramaditya.

The CoI is likely to focus its investigation on Commodore Singh's proximity with other Russians, and if it was in any way linked to problems associated with the Admiral Gorshkov project.

The Admiral Gorshkov is in news for over a decade because of cost escalation and delivery delays.

In March, during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit India, New Delhi cleared the 2.35 billion dollar revised price for the carrier.

The warship, originally purchased for 1.5 billion dollar, is currently undergoing a refit at Russia's Sevmash Shipyard.

Of the total cost, 974 million dollar 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 had jacked up the price to 2.9 billion dollars.

New Delhi wanted the price to be reduced to 2.1 billion dollars, but an eventual figure of 2.35 billion dollar was mutualy agreed upon. (ANI)