The incident is the fallout of differences between warring groups within the CHMES as Maj Gen Natu was a member of the Governing Body till January 1998, when it was replaced by a new body which included Maj Kulkarni.

In his complaint to the Adjutant General, Army Headquarters, New Delhi, on February 15, 1999, Maj Gen Natu claimed that Maj Kulkarni is not an ex-serviceman as he was commissioned with the Territorial Army and was therefore not entitled to canteen and liquor facilities. On February 27, the army's Station Headquarters at Devlali cancelled Maj Kulkarni's facilities.

In his complaint, Maj Gen Natu also pointed out that Maj Kulkarni had been using the prefix `Major' even thoughhe is not entitled to. He has also demanded an inquiry into how the District Sainik Board had helped Maj Kulkarni cheat the army and action against him for fraud.

The Board of Control, Canteen Services (No: 80CCS/36341/VII/Q/CAN, dated June 10, 1982), defines an ex-serviceman as a person ``who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or non-combatant) in the armed forces of the Union including the armed forces of the former Indian States (but excluding the Assam Rifles, Defence Security Corps, General Reserve Engineering Force, Lok Sahayak Sena and Territorial Army) for a continuous period of not less than six months...''

Maj Kulkarni told The Indian Express that he had served in the Territorial Army for 12 years before retiring in 1976, after fighting three wars. He said he had refused a pension as he wanted to return to the Bhonsala Military School, his parent institution, as its commandant.

He also said he had registered with the Zilla Sainik Board in 1992.The major said he would appealagainst the cancellation of his card and may also move court against Maj Gen Natu, whom he has accused of settling old scores.

He said Maj Gen Natu had turned hostile because he (Maj Kulkarni) was elected unopposed as secretary of the CHMES in 1998 and was in the opposite group during the CHMES elections held on January 4, 1998.

On the eve of the elections, some office-bearers had accused Maj Kulkarni of committing financial irregularities and demanded that the elections be postponed. However Maj Kulkarni was elected as secretary, unopposed. Denying the allegations of fraud, he said he had merely overdrawn some money.

Two months ago, the local Mahila Hakka Sanghatana had also accused Maj Kulkarni of shielding Anand Muje, director of the Bhonsala Adventure Foundation, who was accused of misbehaving with some women while trekking.