After a probe into the land scam case in Darjeeling, the Army top brass has been rocked by another controversy with an inquiry being ordered into alleged irregularities in the construction of a war memorial and renovation of a museum at the Ranikhet-based Kumaon Regimental Centre.
While Brigadier Bhupinder Singh, who was heading the centre, has been attached to the Lucknow-based Central Command for the inquiry into charges of diverting funds for the museum and memorial against the norms, the probe has also put one of the senior-most Generals of the Indian Army under the scanner. The inquiry is looking into the role of the Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment Lt Gen Avadhesh Prakash for allegedly sanctioning funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore for the museum and memorial against the norms. Lt Gen Prakash is currently the Military Secretary (MS).
Sources said the inquiry, which has commenced in Lucknow under a Major General, is looking into allegations that the regimental centre concealed from central authorities that it had received funds of over Rs 80 lakh from the Cultural Department to construct the museum in violation of procedures.
Another charge being probed is that over Rs 30 lakh was allegedly taken out from the welfare funds of the Regimental Centre—funds that are earmarked for the welfare of ex-servicemen—to construct the museum and memorial.
While the inquiry has now put the promotion of Brigadier Singh, who had been approved for the rank of a Major General, on hold, Army officials defending the decision to grant sanctions for the museum said the funds were utilised “as per the standing operating procedure” and “proper sanctions” were given.
However, sources said the inquiry was ordered after the Central Command discovered that the massive amount of funds had been sanctioned without its approval. Sources said the contract for the design and construction of the war memorial was given to the daughter of a serving General, again in a violation of norms and no open tender was sanctioned by the regimental centre. It may be recalled that the Kumaon Regimental Centre is already under the shadow in the Army land scam case in which an educational institution allegedly posing as an affiliate of the Mayo College in Ajmer was close to purchasing regimental land under the garb of starting a school. The name of Lt Gen Prakash has also cropped up in the investigation into the Darjeeling land scam case.
While Brigadier Bhupinder Singh, who was heading the centre, has been attached to the Lucknow-based Central Command for the inquiry into charges of diverting funds for the museum and memorial against the norms, the probe has also put one of the senior-most Generals of the Indian Army under the scanner. The inquiry is looking into the role of the Colonel of the Kumaon Regiment Lt Gen Avadhesh Prakash for allegedly sanctioning funds to the tune of Rs 1 crore for the museum and memorial against the norms. Lt Gen Prakash is currently the Military Secretary (MS).
Sources said the inquiry, which has commenced in Lucknow under a Major General, is looking into allegations that the regimental centre concealed from central authorities that it had received funds of over Rs 80 lakh from the Cultural Department to construct the museum in violation of procedures.
Another charge being probed is that over Rs 30 lakh was allegedly taken out from the welfare funds of the Regimental Centre—funds that are earmarked for the welfare of ex-servicemen—to construct the museum and memorial.
While the inquiry has now put the promotion of Brigadier Singh, who had been approved for the rank of a Major General, on hold, Army officials defending the decision to grant sanctions for the museum said the funds were utilised “as per the standing operating procedure” and “proper sanctions” were given.
However, sources said the inquiry was ordered after the Central Command discovered that the massive amount of funds had been sanctioned without its approval. Sources said the contract for the design and construction of the war memorial was given to the daughter of a serving General, again in a violation of norms and no open tender was sanctioned by the regimental centre. It may be recalled that the Kumaon Regimental Centre is already under the shadow in the Army land scam case in which an educational institution allegedly posing as an affiliate of the Mayo College in Ajmer was close to purchasing regimental land under the garb of starting a school. The name of Lt Gen Prakash has also cropped up in the investigation into the Darjeeling land scam case.
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