Superseded ex-chief of Western Naval Command Shekhar Sinha suffers heart attack

NEW DELHI: Former Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, who took voluntary retirement last week after being superseded for the post of chief of naval staff, has suffered heart attack and has been hospitalized in Mumbai.

Sinha (59) was admitted in a naval hospital on Monday after he suffered heart attack. Defence minister AK Antony and Navy chief Admiral Robin Dhowan have instructed officials to extend him all required assistance to Admiral Sinha.

His condition is stable and his health is being monitored closely by a panel of doctors.

He may have to undergo a bypass surgery in near future, officials said.

Upset over being superseded for the Navy chief post, Sinha had shot off a letter to the defence ministry saying either justice should be done to him or he should be allowed to take voluntary retirement.

The government accepted his request for voluntary retirement on last Monday with immediate effect.

Sinha was apparently ignored by the ministry for the appointment to the top post as majority of the 14 accidents involving naval assets had taken place under his command in the Western Navy including the February 26 INS Sindhuratna mishap, which led to former Navy chief Admiral DK Joshi's resignation from the service.

Sinha had told the ministry that he could not be held responsible for the accidents under his command as he was also taking steps to curb the incidents.