Lt Gen Rath to face court martial in Sukna land scam

For the first time in the history of Indian armed forces, a serving lieutenant general will face a court martial for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities.

Former 33 Corps Commander Lt Gen PK Rath will face a court martial starting August 30 for his role in issuing a no-objection certificate to a private realtor for building an educational institution on a 70-acre piece of land adjacent to the Sukna military station in West Bengal, defence ministry sources told PTI here today.

The orders for convening of the court martial have already been issued after the Summary of Evidence (SOE) held against Lt Gen Rath recommended the continuation of disciplinary proceedings against him, they added.

The court martial will be headed by a three-star officer senior to Rath, they said. 

Army had charged that Rath had issued the NOC to the private realtor with an "intent to defraud" in the Rs 300 crore land scam.

Rath was indicted by an Army Court of Inquiry (COI) last year for his role in the alleged land scam and his appointment as the deputy chief of army staff was cancelled by the defence ministry.

Three other generals including former military secretary Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash, Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali and Maj Gen P K
Sen were also indicted by the COI.

While disciplinary action was ordered against Rath and Prakash, Sen and Halgali faced administrative action only. 

SOE in the case is still on in Kolkata against Prakash from July 19 last month.