Two serving Major Generals, who received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal last year, face a CBI probe for allegedly having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income after the defence ministry ordered the action. “The defence ministry has forwarded to CBI complaints received against Maj Gen Ashok Kumar and Maj Gen SS Lamba and has sought a reply,” defence sources said on Thursday, adding that the government will not tolerate corruption at any level.
The CBI will now look into the complaints and report to the Ministry. The Ministry had in September red-flagged the promotion of certain officers following allegations of impropriety. Giving a background to the case, sources said that a meeting of the Special Promotion Board of the Army was held last year to fill up the vacancy of three Lieutenant Generals. Thirty three officers were considered for the post.
A set of names cleared by the Board was sent to the defence ministry. However, following the meeting of the Board, a series of complaints against some officers surfaced, many of which were being circulated on social media.
Taking cognizance of the matter, defence minister Manohar Parrikar himself looked into the issue. It was found that one of the two officers, against whom the ministry has roped in the agency, had faced a CBI inquiry a few years ago over allegations of corruption in a project undertaken by Border Roads Organisation, sources said.The CBI did not find enough evidence for criminal prosecution.
PTI SourcesBRO is a mixed cadre organisation. The matter came to the Army. The Army said that the act pertained to civilian issues and hence action cannot be taken by them. The matter got tossed from here to there as army disciplinary proceeding is different from that of the civilians.
The sources added that actual proceedings have not started. In the meantime, he was considered for promotion and he received the Discipline and Vigilance (DV) clearance since there was no formal proceedings against him.
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