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AGENCIES
New Delhi: Coming down hard on the Army officer indicted in the Sukna Cantonment land scam, Union Defence Minister AK Antony on Wednesday recommended court martial of Lt.Gen. Awadesh Prakash.
"The Defence Minister has advised the army chief to initiate disciplinary action against Lt Gen Prakash (Military Secretary in the army)," highly-placed Defence Ministry sources said here today.
Disciplinary action could lead to a court martial against Lt Gen Prakash, who is in the dock in the scam along with two other Lieutenant Generals and a Major General.
The Army Chief had earlier ordered administrative action against Gen Prakash wherein the court martial was not a requirement. Prakash was issued a show-cause notice to which he has replied.
Prakash is the military secretary who is said to be close to Army Chief Deepak Kapoor. Kapoor was accused of being soft on Prakash as he had just an explanation from him in response to the Army’s court of inquiry finding him guilty.
Kapoor had suggested court martial of Lt.Gen. P.K. Rath, another officer who was indicted. Kapoor submitted his action-taken report to the Defence Ministry Jan 11.
Rath may also be sacked.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony had then said his ministry was closely monitoring the action the Indian Army chief, General Deepak Kapoor, has taken in the in West Bengal.
"You know very well the Army has started some procedure. He has taken some action. We are watching that," Antony told reporters here.
The Army's court of inquiry submitted its report on the scam last December, indicting the two officers for their role in issuing a no-objection certificate to a private company that falsely claimed to be establishing an affiliate of the well-known Ajmer-based Mayo College on a plot adjacent to the Sukna military station in Darjeeling district.
Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen V K Singh, the Army Chief designate, had recommended tough action against Lt Gen Prakash and other accused officials on the basis of a Court of Inquiry
Prakash is one of the eight Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at Army Headquarters who act as advisers to the army chief. As Military Secretary, he is responsible for the promotions and postings of officers.
Rath was commander of the Sukna-based 33 Corps when the land scam occurred.
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