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While Brigadier Bhupinder Singh, who was heading the centre, has been attached to the Lucknow-based Central Command for the inquiry into charges of diverting funds for the museum and memorial against the norms, the probe has also put one of the senior-most Generals of the Indian Army under the scanner. The inquiry is looking into the role of the Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment Lt Gen Avadhesh Prakash for allegedly sanctioning funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore for the museum and memorial against the norms. Lt Gen Prakash is currently the Military Secretary (MS).
Sources said the inquiry, which has commenced in Lucknow under a Major General, is looking into allegations that the regimental centre concealed from central authorities that it had received funds of over Rs 80 lakh from the Cultural Department to construct the museum in violation of procedures.
Another charge being probed is that over Rs 30 lakh was allegedly taken out from the welfare funds of the Regimental Centre—funds that are earmarked for the welfare of ex-servicemen—to construct the museum and memorial.
While the inquiry has now put the promotion of Brigadier Singh, who had been approved for the rank of a Major General, on hold, Army officials defending the decision to grant sanctions for the museum said the funds were utilised “as per the standing operating procedure” and “proper sanctions” were given.
However, sources said the inquiry was ordered after the Central Command discovered that the massive amount of funds had been sanctioned without its approval. Sources said the contract for the design and construction of the war memorial was given to the daughter of a serving General, again in a violation of norms and no open tender was sanctioned by the regimental centre.
It may be recalled that the Kumaon Regimental Centre is already under the shadow in the Army land scam case in which an educational institution allegedly posing as an affiliate of the Mayo College in Ajmer was close to purchasing regimental land under the garb of starting a school. The name of Lt Gen Prakash has also cropped up in the investigation into the Darjeeling land scam case.
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dear sir It is disheartening to read in the print media the growing coruption in the Army with specific reference to Brigadiers and Generals. Such officers should be denied promotion and court marsahlled. They are tarnishing the image of the army and misusing the welfare funds, meant for troops. All officers who indulge in such malpractices should be denied pension too. The media should also highlight such issues and organise live debate, so that the establishments takes more stringent measure to curb such activities.
Corruption in Defence Forces that too among high ranked officers is growing fast.Its only feww small fish who are being caught or investigated but there are many who will remain well covered by the influencial politicians and civil servants cooperating and sharing the embezzled money and illegally acquired assests.Corruption,dishonesty;moral and material is the worst that can happen among those who have taken oath to protect,defend and save the nation and the Nationals.But the investigators must not forget the biggest criminals who have amassed unimaginable riches through meanest methods/tricks of corruption sitting in the cabinet and parliament are responsible for spreading this disease.
It is sad but it is good that these things are being checked, there must be a thorough and detailed investigations in to the irregularities ofcourse without any bias. Anyone whosoever is found guilty must be brought to justice irrespective of his rank. These are the kind of people who gets army a bad name and spoil army's discipline. Though the corruption and malpractices in the civil govt department and politics is in a very large scale but that does not give licence to anybody to be corrupt.