SC raps Centre for not acting in Kargil scam

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the government's failure to act against officials allegedly involved in the multi-crore scam that took place while purchasing defence equipment for the 1999 Kargil operations.

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the government's failure to act against officials allegedly involved in the multi-crore scam that took place while purchasing defence equipment for the 1999 Kargil operations.

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No action has been taken despite the report of Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) saying that nearly 75% of the Rs2,163 crore worth of supplies were received well after the cessation of hostilities and therefore did not support the operations.

“We do not want to be harsh with you in this case. But, this cannot go on like this,” said a bench of justice Aftab Alam and justice Ranjana Desai. The court said it would take up the matter on November 28 and also hear arguments on the aspect pertaining to the importance of a CAG report.

The case before the apex court is pending since 2004 when a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed alleging multi-crore scam in the purchase of defence equipment for ‘Operation Vijay’.