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Liquor Scam
Brigadier convicted, another facing trial
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 31
A general court martial (GCM) trying two brigadiers for their alleged role in a liquor scam has found one of them guilty of wrongfully taking a loan from a private party. The trial of the other officer is in progress.

Sources at Army Headquarters said the GCM had convicted Brig R.S. Rana for allegedly borrowing Rs 60,000 from a private vendor, thereby violating Para 337 of the Regulations for the Army. The money was to be handed over to his superior officer, a major general, in exchange for a cheque meant for releasing intelligence funds.

The quantum of the sentence would be pronounced later. The officer, in his defence, had contended that the transactions pertaining to the loan were directly between the major general and the dealer and he had just been a facilitator.

The GCM, presided over by Maj Gen R.K. Sanan from Headquarters Central Command, had commenced last month and concluded this week.

The other officer, Brig R.G. Divakar, is facing four charges — two under Section 52(f) of the Army Act for intent to defraud and two alternate charges under Section 63 for acts prejudicial to good order and military discipline — for allegedly diverting Military Intelligence funds and handing them to his division commander, Maj Gen G.I. Singh.

Major General G.I. Singh was commanding an infantry division in Bareilly, when the scam to allegedly siphon-off large quantities of canteen liquor and sell it in the civilian market was uncovered. He was earlier tried and cashiered by a GCM. During his trial it was brought out that he used to issue cheques to his brigade commanders on the pretext of utilising the funds for certain projects or for cultivating sources and gathering intelligence. Three commanders used to return cash to him and the transactions ran into several lakh rupees. This money was allegedly used to run the liquor scam.

Army probes sexual misconduct by officer

The Army is probing a case of a senior officer allegedly misbehaving with a junior officer’s wife at a social function in Patiala.

Headquarters Western Command is learnt to have ordered an inquiry into the matter after the incident was brought to the notice of senior commanders. The victim is said to be the wife of a colonel.

Sources said the alleged incident took place during a party hosted by the General Officer Commanding, 1 Armoured Division, in the last week of December. Among those against whom accusations have been leveled is an officer of the rank of brigadier.