Lt Gen Avdesh Prakash faces court martial
Lt General Prakash was indicted by an Army inquiry of using his position to help a businessman in Siliguri in West Bengal.
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: Defence minister A K Antony has recommended court martial of Lt General Avdesh Prakash, one of the country’s senior-most generals.
Lt General Prakash was indicted by an Army inquiry of using his position to help a businessman in Siliguri in West Bengal. The internal investigation found that Prakash influenced officers to permit real estate developer to acquire 71 acres next to the Army’s 33 Corps headquarters in Siliguri.
The Army, which had earlier told the government that this land could not be sold to any commercial developer for security reasons, cleared the transfer of the land to real estate developer Dilip Agarwal. The Army's inquiry said Prakash should be sacked for he “became a facilitator in promoting Dilip Agarwal's business.”
However, General Deepak Kapoor decided to take administrative action against Prakash. Gen Kapoor was criticised for the ‘mild’ punishment meted out to his military secretary.
Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Singh, who has been named the next Army chief, has already said his priorities will be to end scams and cleanse the Army’s image. Lt General Singh had recommended tough action against Lt Gen Prakash.
“I will try and put a stop to such things in the Army and clean up its image,” Lt General Singh had said at the sidelines of a conference recently.
On Army chief Kapoor’s comment on taking action against Lt Gen Prakash for his involvement in the scandal, Lt General Singh had said as the issue fell under the purview of Eastern Command, it was his duty to send the recommendations. While Lt General Singh recommended court martial against Lt Gen P K Rath and Major General P C Sen, he had sought the dismissal for Prakash and administrative action against Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali.
Lt General Prakash was indicted by an Army inquiry of using his position to help a businessman in Siliguri in West Bengal. The internal investigation found that Prakash influenced officers to permit real estate developer to acquire 71 acres next to the Army’s 33 Corps headquarters in Siliguri.
The Army, which had earlier told the government that this land could not be sold to any commercial developer for security reasons, cleared the transfer of the land to real estate developer Dilip Agarwal. The Army's inquiry said Prakash should be sacked for he “became a facilitator in promoting Dilip Agarwal's business.”
However, General Deepak Kapoor decided to take administrative action against Prakash. Gen Kapoor was criticised for the ‘mild’ punishment meted out to his military secretary.
Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Singh, who has been named the next Army chief, has already said his priorities will be to end scams and cleanse the Army’s image. Lt General Singh had recommended tough action against Lt Gen Prakash.
“I will try and put a stop to such things in the Army and clean up its image,” Lt General Singh had said at the sidelines of a conference recently.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Army chief Kapoor’s comment on taking action against Lt Gen Prakash for his involvement in the scandal, Lt General Singh had said as the issue fell under the purview of Eastern Command, it was his duty to send the recommendations. While Lt General Singh recommended court martial against Lt Gen P K Rath and Major General P C Sen, he had sought the dismissal for Prakash and administrative action against Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
