Widening arms bribery scandal hits senior Indian officials

A widening Indian arms bribery scandal has led to the suspension of four senior officials at the Indian Ministry of Defence.

It comes a day after secret video footage showed senior figures in India in connection with a fake defence deal.

Jonathan Harley reports.

Among the four defence minsitry defence officials suspended, a major general responsible for assessing defence procurements. They were suspended after a news internet site released extensive footage of senior political, military and bureaucratic figures accepting money from two journalists pretending to be arms deals. Already the scandal's led to the resignation of the president of Prime Minister Atal Behari Javpayee's Bharatiya Janita Party. The government says it's ready to debate the matter in parliament and will hold an enquiry if necessary. But that's not satisfying an opposition sensing blood. A spokesman for the main opposition Congress Party, Kapal Sebahl. (act) The accused cannot investigate himself. If the entire government is the accused, how can the goverfnment investigate itself (ends)

15/03/01 15:02:39 | ABC Radio Australia News

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