Terming the arrest of retired IAF officer and treasurer of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) CK Sharma "personal vendetta" being pursued by a former chairman of the organisation, its members today expressed strong objection over the issue and said they could take legal recourse.
Led by Maj. Gen. (retd) Satbir Singh, the present chairman of IESM, that is spearheading the One Rank-One Pension protest, the veterans said at a press conference that their organisation is ready for any kind of scrutiny.
Sharma was arrested by Gurgaon Police on March 10 night after a directive from a local court on the basis of a complaint filed by Lt Gen (retd) Raj Kadyan, former chairman of IESM. Singh and Wing Commander VK Gandhi, who were also named in the complaint, have already secured anticipatory bail in the case.
"This is nothing but personal vendetta by Lt Gen (retd) Raj Kadyan because we opposed him for trying to use the organisation for political purpose. He was later removed from the governing council of IESM by a majority vote. You all know he was a candidate in Lok Sabha polls.
"When, Lt Gen Kadyan was chairman, he did not check the funds even once and now he is accusing us of financial irregularities. This same case pertaining to 2013 was investigated twice by Gurgaon police," claimed Singh.
Kadyan had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls as an AAP candidate from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.
The veterans described the "ordeal" faced by Sharma as being "humiliating for a fighter pilot who has fought the 1965 and 1971 wars".
"I was asked to sleep next to a rapist and another person who was accused of committing three murders," Sharma claimed.
Asked what would be their next step, Sharma said, "We are considering counter-legal action. All legal actions are under consideration."
He added that Kadyan has alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs 10 lakh withdrawn from the bank in 2013.
"We spent Rs 8 lakh for two rallies and the remaining money was kept as a fixed deposit," Sharma added.
