Controversial Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal’s, whose name did not figure on the list of Padma awardees prepared by the Union home ministry, was added at the last minute.
Controversial Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal’s name did not figure on the list of Padma awardees prepared by the Union home ministry. It was included at the last minute because the prime minister’s office (PMO) had sent a separate list, which included his name, senior home ministry sources told DNA.
According to official procedure, the home ministry prepares the list of the awardees. The list is then sent to the PMO. The final word on the matter rests with the PMO. Once it clears the name, the list is sent to the home ministry for a background check of the awardees.
The government has called Chatwal “an active member of the NRI community in the United States (US) who helped in securing support for the nuclear deal among the members of the US Congress”.
Stoutly defending itself against any wrongdoing, the government released a statement on Wednesday saying: “The Padma awards are conferred only after consideration in terms of the guidelines regulating the award and after observance of established and elaborate procedures. 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.”
Referring to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases, the government statement said: “Between 1992 and 1994, CBI had registered five cases against Chatwal and some bank officials for conniving with the intention to defraud Bank of Baroda and Bank of India. The CBI itself closed three of these cases. It filed chargesheets in two cases before the court of a special CBI judge in Mumbai. In these two cases also, the court discharged Chatwal. As per available records, there are no adverse reports against Chatwal.”
The rejoinder from the government came in the wake of growing criticism of the decision to honour Chatwal with a Padma Bhushan. Senior journalists Vir Sanghvi and Pritish Nandy have threatened to file a right to information (RTI) application, demanding how Chatwal’s name figured on the list. Both Sanghvi and Nandy tweeted to each other about the route they will take to file the RTI.
Chatwal is considered extremely close to Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary.
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