Land scam: Army chief tells ministry of planned action
By IANSMonday, January 11, 2010
NEW DELHI - Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor Monday informed the defence ministry of the action to be taken against the two top generals indicted in a land scam in Sukhna Cantonment in West Bengal.
“The army chief has informed the action he will be taking against those indicted in the court of inquiry into the scam,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said without divulging the details of the action to be taken.
However, sources said the army chief has “only sought an explanation” from Lt. Gen. Awadesh Prakash and has recommended court martial of Lt.Gen. P.K.Rath.
The army’s court of inquiry submitted its report in the scam in December last year.
The army court has indicted the two officers for their role in issuing a no-objection certificate to a private establishment that falsely claimed to be establishing an affiliate of the well-known Ajmer-based Mayo College on a land adjacent to the Sukhna military station in Darjeeling district.
Prakash is one of the eight Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at Army HQ who act as advisors to the army chief. As Military Secretary, he is responsible for the promotions and postings of officers.
P.K. Rath was commander of the Sukhna-based 33 Corps when the alleged land scam took place.
