General court martial of Maj Gen on February 14
CHANDIGARH: A general court
martial (GCM) trying Major General Anil Sarup ( retd), which started on Tuesday at Jalandhar, got adjourned till February 14. No significant work could be carried out on Tuesday and the court was simply adjourned, sources said.
Chief of Staff, 11 Corps, Maj Gen SK Aggarwal, is the presiding officer of the general court martial.
Maj Gen Sarup is facing five charges related to purchase of store items for troops proceeding on a UN peace keeping mission — a Kirloskar generator set costing Rs 6.5 lakh, which was allegedly bought for Rs 14.5 lakh, and power cables allegedly bought at a much higher rate than prevalent market prices.
The complaint in the case was filed by VP Sharma, an advocate in the Supreme Court.
Director General of Ordnance Services had substantiated the allegations with regard to procurement of the 100 KVA generator set and power cables in its report dated September 30, 2008.
A Court of Inquiry (COI) was ordered by GOC- in- C, HQ Western Command, on October 15, 2008. The COI commenced on October 27, 2008 under Lt Gen PL Katoch and initially concluded on November 18, 2008.
Maj SK Singh, an officer, wrote to Western Command that he wanted to make an additional statement.
On December 20, 2008, Western Command ordered to reconvene the court of inquiry on December 30, 2008 to include the additional statement of Maj Singh.
Maj Gen Sarup had alleged that Maj Singh had given a totally contrary statement in his second appearance.
Maj Gen Sarup was later attached to Hq 9 Corps, Dharamshala for further disciplinary proceedings.
“It is not a case of disciplinary action. The purchases were made as per the prescribed procedure. The case of financial misappropriation is foisted on Maj Gen Sarup to stall his promotion to the rank of Lt Gen,” said Col SK Aggarwal (retd), defence counsel of Maj Gen Sarup.
“The charge on us is that we caused a loss, whereas we are claiming that we have made profit towards the exchequer,” said Col SK Aggarwal.