ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Inquiry blames military intelligence for goof-up on air chief

The 'goof-up' that led to the Indian Air Force chief's character and antecedents being checked by a sub-inspector of the Uttar Pradesh state intelligence unit has been traced to a letter written by an officer of MI-9, the office of the director-general of military intelligence, defence sources said today.

Air Chief Marshal S K Sareen's name was first on the list sent by the officer to the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the prime minister's security for issuing special passes for the combined commanders' conference at South Block in New Delhi on October 26.

The conference is to be addressed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The sources said the MI-9 officer, who had sent the letter (no: 8/33015/MI9) with the approval of the vice-chief of army staff, had given details like the air chief's present address (Air House) and his permanent address in Dehra Dun.

Subsequently, the DCP informed the Uttar Pradesh state intelligence unit since the permanent address mentioned was in Dehra Dun.

The security check on September 28, which was blamed on the prime minister's office, shocked defence personnel.

On October 2, the PMO denied having ordered an inquiry and Prime Minister Vajpayee, expressing his displeasure at the incident, asked the home secretary to order an inquiry. R D Kapur, special secretary in the home ministry, was asked to conduct the inquiry.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report