CBI to probe corruption charges against two army generals

Two top serving Generals of the Indian Army have come under corruption scanner.

Sources said defence ministry has recommended a CBI inquiry against Major General Ashok Kumar and Major General SS Lamba on allegations of disproportionate income and paying bribe for their promotions.

While Kumar is from the Army Service Corps, Lamba belongs to the Army Ordnance Corps.

Even as complaints were received against the two, sources said the Ministry of Defence (MoD), recommended a probe by the central investigating agency after satisfying itself of a prima facie case against them.

CBI, according to sources, has already begun looking into the properties owned by the officers.

The two, said sources wanted to secure their promotion as Lieutenant Generals.

Their promotions were given an approval during former Military Secretary Lt General R Bhalla (retired). Bhalla's role had come under scanner days before his retirement.

"CBI has been asked to probe everyone related to the case," said a defence ministry source without elaborating further.

"Corruption charges against the officers were being monitored for quite some time even at the level of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). It is only after due consideration that the CBI was involved by the defence minister Manohar Parrikar," said a source.