Brigadier indicted for funds misuse

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 22

A court of inquiry (COI), convened by the Army to investigate allegations of corruption levelled against a Brigadier commanding a key missile brigade, has reportedly indicted the officer for several counts of professional misdemeanour.

The inquiry had been convened after the brigade’s Deputy Commander Colonel S Ramalingam submitted a written complaint, supported by documents, to senior officers.

Among allegations levelled by the Colonel are misappropriation of the brigade’s regimental funds, unauthorised purchases and expenditure without original bills, irregular sanction of repair and maintenance works, non-compliance of observations of audit reports.

Sources said the findings of the COI had been sent to the General Officer Commanding 21 Corps, a strike formation, for further directions a few days ago. The review of the COI’s proceedings would determine the next course of action.

The Army had appointed Brig Rakesh Raina, Deputy General Officer Commanding of an infantry division, the COI’s presiding officer. Other members of the COI were Brig Manoj Kumar and Brig Saif-ul-Islam, both commanding different brigades.

Though a COI against a Brigadier would normally be presided over by an officer of the rank of Major General, the COI’s convening authority has certified that no Major General was available to conduct the inquiry due to service exigencies.