Land ScamAntony orders court martial of Lt GenAjay BanerjeeTribune:Veteran Prabhjot Singh PLS Retd.

Land ScamAntony orders court martial of

Lt GenAjay BanerjeeTribune News Service
New Delhi, January 27Virtually cracking the whip and

differing from the opinion of the Indian Army chief,

Defence Minister AK Antony today recommended that

court martial proceedings be initiated against military

secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash.
Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor had recommended only

a milder “administrative action” against Lt Gen

Prakash and two others, Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali and

Major-Gen P Sen, while he okayed disciplinary

proceedings against Lt Gen PK Rath in what is now

known as the “Darjeeling land scam”. Administrative

action is a mild reprimand when compared with

disciplinary proceedings, which can lead up to a court

martial.
The advice of the Defence Minister had reached the

Army chief this evening, sources said while confirming

the developments. Such an advice coming from the

Defence Minister was unprecedented. The onus is now on

the Army chief to take action. Sources said the Army

chief is “unlikely to differ on the Defence Minister’s advice”

and it was likely that General Prakash will not escape

unscathed.
Last week, Adjutant-General Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal

acting on the advice of the Army chief issued notices for

taking administrative action against Military Secretary

General Prakash and others. General Prakash, who is to

retire on January 31, has replied to the notice, sources

said today.
Last week, Antony had questioned the Army chief as to why

different yardsticks were applied in deciding the nature

of action against four senior Generals. The court of inquiry

ordered by the Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen VK Singh

had indicted two officers, including General Prakash, for

their role in issuing a no-objection certificate to a private

establishment that falsely claimed to be establishing an

affiliate of the well known Ajmer-based Mayo College on

land adjacent to the Sukna military station in Darjeeling

district.
On Saturday, General Kapoor had explained to the defence

ministry why he wanted only an administrative action

against Prakash while the COI ordered by General VK Singh

had wanted General Prakash be sacked. The Army chief ’s

ruling given on January 11 was in contrast to the

recommendation of the COI and that had prompted Antony

to seek a reply.
The Defence Minister had reportedly asked General Kapoor

as to what was the basis to take disciplinary action against

only one of the four senior Generals who were facing a probe.
Lt Gen Rath, is his earlier capacity as commander of the 33

corps at Darjeeling, had a major role in of signing of a

memorandum of understanding with a private realtor for a

70-acre plot adjacent to the military station near Darjeeling.

Rath during the court of inquiry had blamed the military

secretary for putting pressure on him to allow the MoU.

Veteran Prbahjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Mob:098554-09128 Telefax:0175-5000896.