vIndianz.com (Dec. 02, 2009) — The Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Wednesday went on the self-protective on the Sukhna land scam asking the media not to presuppose about any senior army officers.
Interacting with the media here, General Kapoor said: “It’s impulsive to jump into any conclusions just yet, so don’t pass any verdict on senior army officers.”
General Kapoor’s statement came a day after the Eastern Command urged the media to sustain control. “The Court of Inquiry is still going and the report is expected. My action will be determined by the CoI report,” General Kapoor added.
“We require being just and fair for the representation of the army,” he said. On Tuesday, Army’s Eastern Command had appealed to the media to implement self-control in coverage on the Sukna Land issue, concerning several officers.
In a statement, the Eastern Army Command said: “Certain media reports have appeared on the subject of current Court of Inquiry in Sukhna Land issue of Eastern Command. Since the Court of Inquiry is still in movement and not finalized, therefore provisional comments/interferences at this stage about the guiltiness of an individual is not correct.”
The report further went on to say; “It should also be understood that it amounts to character assassination of senior army officers. Precipitate trials and verdicts by the accountable and responsible media should be avoided.”
The statement by the Eastern Army Command came days after a court of inquiry apparently exposed that it found clinching evidence against four serving Generals in link with the Sukna land scam.
Earlier, a segment of the media reported that the CoI has indicted Military Secretary Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash and Deputy Army Chief-designate Lt Gen P K Rath for their responsibility in issuing a no objection certificate to a private establishment that incorrectly claimed to be establishing an associate of the well-known Ajmer-based Mayo College on land neighboring the Sukhna military station in Darjeeling.
Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash is one of the top eight Principal Staff Officers at the Army headquarters acting as advisors to Army chief General Deepak Kapoor. As Military Secretary, is in charge for the promotion and postings of officers.
Lt-Gen P K Rath was commander of the crucial 33 Corps based in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, under which the Sukna military station comes, when the suspected land swindle took place.
The defense ministry has cancelled the meeting of Lt. Gen. Rath as the new Deputy Army Chief (Information Systems and Training).
Lt Gen Rath’s, former deputy, Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgali is presently commanding the 11 Corps at Jalandhar. The Commission of Inquiry has also actually indicted some other officers in the ‘chain in command’.
Sources at the Army headquarters have exposed that proof is still being collected to attempt some senior officers for gross improprieties and irregularities in the course of a court-martial.
Further Reading- Army men selling arms won’t get away: SC told – Times of India
- Sukna scam: Lt Gen Rath’s kin to fight for justice – Times of India
- Increase in infiltration: General Kapoor
- Army sure of chief’s age – Daily News & Analysis
- Vice-Admiral Lanba takes over as Eastern Naval Command chief – IBNLive.com
- UN court sentences Rwandan ex-army chief to 30 years for genocide – AHN | All Headline News
- Probe ordered into leakage of Army Chief’s age documents – Hindustan Times
- British Military Officers to Advise Libya’s Rebels – Voice of America
- Indian Army awaiting CBI inputs on Adarsh probe – Hindustan Times
- New Delhi ‘Army probing howitzer report leak’ – Hindustan Times
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1 Comment
SUKHNA LAND SCAM- COURT MARTIAL OF LT GEN
1. A serving Lt Gen for the first time in history was tried by a General Court Martial for his unbecoming conduct in the Sukha Land Scam.
2. Lt Gen PK Rath, Ex GOC 33 Corps was indicted along with Lt Gen Avdesh Prakash, Ex Military Secretary by a Court of Inquiry earlier.
3. Lt Gen PK Rath has since been tried by the General Court Martial at Shillong, and was convicted on three charges. The guilty and prime accused has been correctly convicted.
4. The Indian Army has a structured mechanism to deal with impropriety, corruption and wrong doing in the organization. This General Court Martial is a true epitome of military justice executed in a short periodof one year time.
5. In the Sukhna Land Case, Lt Gen Rath who was Corps Commander had wrongly issued NOC and MOU to the real estate builder without informing his superior Headquarter. As soon as the fraud was detected, the Chief of Staff, Maj Gen Ramesh Halgali reported the matter. He was the whistle blower of this case. This became the episodic turning point of the case. In view of timely and correct reporting by him, a General Court Martial was instituted so that the matter is nibbed in the bud itself.
6. Inspite of grave provocations, Maj Gen Ramesh Halgali demonstrated high character, military values and unflinching loyalty. Officers who stand up against wrong doing are treated fairly with honour and respected. Whistle blowers became a rallying point for thousand of officers who work with morality, honesty and character.
7. The Indian Army continues to maintain the highest standards of discipline and morale. An odd aberration like this, is handled with due alacrity under laid down disciplinary channels. There is a strong drive in the Army to root out corruption through transparency, adherence to military ethics and protection of whistle blowers.