The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday started verification of a complaint by the Defence Ministry seeking an investigation into allegations of that two Major-Generals assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
“We have received a reference from the Defence Ministry and the facts are being examined to decide the further course of action,” a CBI official told The Hindu .
Maj.Gen. Ashok Kumar from the Army Service Corps is with the Eastern Command in Kolkata, while Maj.Gen. S.S. Lamba from the Army Ordnance Corps is at the Army headquarters in Delhi.
Promotion scam Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ordered the investigations on Thursday after allegations of corruption in promotions to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
The case pertains to the recommendations of the Special Promotion Board constituted to fill three vacancies of Lieutenant-General, for which 33 officers were considered. While the Board sent names to the Ministry, allegations of bribery surfaced against some of them. Taking note of the issue the Ministry flagged it last September.
The 1.2-million Army has a steeply pyramidal structure at the top ranks. While promotions till the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel are time-bound, those from Colonel and above are merit-based and decided by a Promotion Board.
Previous cases It has been learnt that that one of the Major-Generals faced a CBI inquiry earlier over corruption charges in a Border Roads Organisation (BRP) project. However, the case did not make headway because of lack of evidence.
While the officer in question got the Vigilance clearance for the next rank as there were no charges against him, Mr. Parrikar referred the matter to the CBI for an inquiry when it came up to him. Both the officers won the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for “distinguished services of an exceptional order” last year.
