Military Police officer gets the axe for felling trees, false claims

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

An officer responsible for policing Army personnel has been caught on the wrong foot. A general court martial (GCM) has convicted an officer commanding a military police unit for illegally felling trees and others acts of financial misappropriation.

According to sources, the GCM has imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh besides awarding five years forfeiture of service and a severe reprimand on a lieutenant colonel who was commanding a provost unit in Punjab. The GCM’s findings and verdict are subject to confirmation by the convening authority.

The GCM, presided by Brig Navdeep Mathur, Deputy General Officer Commanding 1 Armoured Division, was held at Patiala.

The officer was tried under three charges under Sections 52 and 57 of the Army Act for theft of property and falsifying documents. He had allegedly illegally felled and disposed of as many as 37 eucalyptus trees growing on government land.

In addition, he had also attempted to fraudulently claim transport allowance and leave encashment. Following complaints against the officer, the Army had convened a court of inquiry (COI) to investigate the matter. While relevant “Part-II” orders pertaining to claims were published, he could not actually draw the allowances because the COI had commenced in the meantime.

The officer had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him, but after the deposition of several prosecution witnesses, he conceded to his acts of omission and commission, sources added.

Meanwhile, another Lieutenant Colonel from the Army Service Corps posted in a Supply Depot in Ferozepur is in the dock for allegedly demanding illegal gratification. He is being tried by a GCM after a local contractor, Gurvinder Singh, had submitted a complaint against him, supported by video clips shot with a hidden pen camera.