Hyderabad: A serving officer holding the rank of Colonel has written to the Chief of the Army Staff stating that he is being harassed for exposing corrupt deals by a high-ranking officer. In a letter seeking an investigation, addressed to Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, the officer has complained that the high-ranking officer demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from a colonel of the JAG (Judge Advocate General) branch.
While, in another case, a Major-General rank officer has been removed from command and has been attached on disciplinary grounds to HQ 31 Sub Area on charges of corruption and financial bungling.
In a society in which corruption is rampant and ethics are disregarded in the political, judicial and bureaucratic systems, there has been a concurrent erosion of values within the armed forces as well.
In the letter (a copy of which is with this newspaper), the complainant, a colonel rank officer, said, “I filed a formal complaint against an officer of Brigadier rank allegedly involved in a bribe bid. But that officer has started to liaise with Deputy Judge Accountant of XI Corps (based in Jalandhar), so as to hush up everything. He (officer) is in a hurry to get me court-martialled and get me punished in spite of the overwhelming evidence in my favour having been brought on record. Also, the evidence submitted is being tampered, there are instances of influencing the witnesses. Instead of taking up the investigation, the officer is posted at the HQ Southern Command.”
The letter goes on to say, “A large number of officers know the credential of this corrupt officer, however till date I have not received any response. It is very surprising that even after making a direct complaint and that too signed and named the complaint, no action is being initiated to carry out an investigation. The provision of Army Act Section 5 clearly mandates that in case of making any false complaint, the complainant shall be punished. Accordingly, either action should be taken against me in case I fail to substantiate my complaint or the person against whom the complaint has been made should be booked.”
There has not been a court of inquiry based on this complaint and the officer said he is being harassed for making it.
In another example of corruption in the Armed Forces, an officer of the rank of Major General, holding an extremely important position in HQ Southern Command, as Commandant, Corps Battle School 15 Corps, Ex 9, Garhwal Rifles was removed from command and has been attached on disciplinary grounds to HQ 31 Sub Area on charges of corruption and financial bungling.
He had been approved for the rank of Brigadier and was slated to be posted as Commander.
Regarding this above case, a highly-placed source told Deccan Chronicle, “The officer facing an inquiry in HQ Southern Command for financial bungling is alleged to have favoured a particular dealer/vendor in security related equipment by accepting his bid which was L3. Technically, the lowest bidder is termed L1, and is supposed to be given the supply order. The vendor who has been favoured is from a particular political party and hence it has become an issue now.”
In this particular case, the commandant of the military intelligence school and depot, a senior rank officer, has been appointed to investigate.
After a series of complaints surfaced in connection with corruption in the Indian Army, the chief of the Army staff has reportedly issued fresh instructions that no case of financial impropriety or moral turpitude should be taken lightly.
