VK Singh questions P.K. Rath’s acquittal by tribunal

New Delhi: After the Armed Forces Tribunal made adverse comments against Union minister Gen. V.K. Singh (Retd) in the Sukna land scam case, the former Army Chief on Saturday questioned the findings against him and said the government should challenge the verdict in a higher court. Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath (Retd), who was given a clean chit and his court martial quashed, said the verdict has vindicated his stand.

Gen. Singh said the tribunal had made a personal attack. “In the tribunal’s judgment, instead of reacting on issues, a personal attack has been made. An issue which was very clear and where corruption was tried to be prevented. Perhaps through such a judgment people will not get scared of corruption (sic),” Gen. Singh said. "They also don’t tell anybody that an institution was to be constructed on this land and not just a school. Through this judgment, the morale of corrupt people will go up,” he added.

The former Army Chief also sought to question the tribunal’s knowledge of the armed forces, stating, “I have nothing to comment on the decision. The tribunal has an honourable judge who is advised by retired armed forces officers. What advice the armed forces officers give him is what he goes by because he does not know anything about the armed forces.”