GCM acquits Major caught by CBI in corruption case

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 20

A General Court Martial (GCM) at Ambala has held an Army officer, Major Vikalp Purohit, not guilty of two charges levelled against him under the Prevention of Corruption Act after being entrapped by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The GCM has acquitted him.

On August 20, 2010, the CBI’s Shimla branch had laid a trap to catch the accused officer red-handed at Koksar near Rohtang Pass on the Manali-Leh road. He was charged for giving 1,200 litres of diesel on loan to Sehdev Sharma, a Border Roads Organisation contractor and selling 800 litres of high-speed diesel to a CBI decoy contractor. 

The CBI had contended that the seizure memo was prepared at Koksar, but a printout of the same could not be taken since there was no power supply. During cross-examination it was established that no memo was prepared at Koksar and there was continuous power supply. 

The defence contended that the prosecution had planted false evidence to involve the accused in the case because he had refused to oblige certain persons, and fake documents were created to implicate him. Further, though the entire operation was claimed to be video-graphed, the video film was not produced as evidence.

The defence also contended that currency notes were planted in the accused’s room in his absence. The diesel was given as temporary short-term loan in overall national interest by the detachment in charge on a loan issue voucher when the accused was away to Jespa accompanying the Dalai Lama.