Government of India confers Padma awards as per guidelines says Home Ministry

NEW DELHI - On the wake of controversy over conferring Padma Bhushan award to Indian American Sant Singh Chatwal the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday clarified that no Padma award has been conferred without the recommendation of the awards committee.

“No Padma award is conferred except on the recommendation of the Awards Committee constituted for the purpose and after the due diligence has been done,” said Home Ministry in a press release.

The statement said, that Padma Awards are conferred only after consideration in terms of the guidelines regulating the award and after observance of established and elaborate procedures.

“A ‘due diligence’ exercise is undertaken in respect of each awardee in consultation with appropriate agencies before announcement of the award,” the ministry added.

Earlier, A section of the media alleged that Chatwal was named by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his alleged involvement in nine million dollars bank fraud.

“As regards the allegations against Chatwal, it is clarified that between 1992 and 1994, CBI had registered five cases against Chatwal and some bank officials for conniving with the intention to defraud the Bank of Baroda and Bank of India,” the statement said.

“Three of these cases were closed by CBI itself while charge sheets were filed by the CBI in two cases before the Court of Special Judge, CBI, Mumbai. In these two cases also, the Court discharged Chatwal. As per available reports, there is nothing adverse on record against Chatwal,” it added. (ANI)