Watching army chief’s action in Sukna land scam: Antony

NEW DELHI - Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday said his ministry was closely monitoring the action the Indian Army chief, General Deepak Kapoor, has taken in the Sukna Cantonment land scam in West Bengal.

You know very well the army has started some procedure. He has taken some action. We are watching that, Antony told reporters here.

Kapoor had submitted his action-taken report to the defence ministry Jan 11.

While Kapoor has suggested the court martial of one of the officers involved, Lt.Gen. P.K. Rath, he has only sought “an explanation from another officer and his close aide Lt.Gen. Awadesh Prakash, who is due to retire on Jan 31.

The armys court of inquiry submitted its report on the scam last December, indicting the two officers for their role in issuing a no-objection certificate to a private company that falsely claimed to be establishing an affiliate of the well-known Ajmer-based Mayo College on a plot adjacent to the Sukna military station in Darjeeling district.

Prakash is one of the eight Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at Army Headquarters who act as advisers to the army chief. As Military Secretary, he is responsible for the promotions and postings of officers.

Rath was commander of the Sukna-based 33 Corps when the land scam occured.