Graft in pensions: 26/11 Commando claims non-payment of benefits

Background  Surender Singh a former NSG commando, who fought terrorists in the 26/11 attack and was invalidated from service after he got  severely injured in the operation Black Tornado (code name of 26/11 anti-terror flush out) On Thursday(Nov,22/2012) he claimed in a press conference arranged by IAC that he has not got any financial benefits or pension and the money "gifted" to him and his colleagues. 

Allegations

             Surender Singh

• Singh said he received roughly around Rs. 4 lakh as rewards from various sources, including Rs. 1 lakh each from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. "In that money, I spent over Rs. 1 lakh on medical expenses. I have a family to run," he said.
• Singh said he was severely injured in the operation to flush out terrorists from the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and was invalidated from service in October, 2011.
  
• Since last year, he alleged, he has not received "even a single paise" from the government.
  
• "I saw a file in which the photocopy of a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh each from Rohan Motors Pvt Ltd and another firm were received in my name. I never got the money. Not just me but none of my colleagues got the money which came in their name. I want to know who en-cashed them and where are they now?" he asked.
  
• "When I asked officials what happened to the money, they said the home ministry decided that no gifts or donations will be received by the NSG. But they did not show me the records to prove that those money have been returned," Singh said.
• He also distributed copies of an RTI reply which said he received around Rs. 2.5 lakh as financial benefits from the Government of India.

       Arvind Kejrival

• Presenting an order from the government which said Singh was not eligible to get pension as he has put in only 14 years and three months of service as against the mandatory 15 years, Kejriwal claimed there are several clauses in the law under which a commando can be given concessions so that he gets his pension.

Govt's response However, the government rejected his claim with Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari saying that the commando has been paid Rs. 31 lakh in the form of ex-gratia payment by the Governments of India and Maharashtra.

However, Singh rejected the claims and said he has not received any money from the government.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/26-11-Flanked-by-Kejriwal-NSG-commando-claims-he-hasn-t-got-financial-benefits/Article1-962748.aspx