Indian Army general dismissed over land scam

Dec 3, 2011, 10:09 GMT

New Delhi - A retired Indian Army lieutenant general was dismissed from service with retrospective effect Saturday for his involvement in a land scam, an army spokesman said.

Avadesh Prakash, a former military secretary, is the senior most officer of the Indian Army to be court-martialled.

An army court had completed the trial Friday and found Prakash guilty of intent to defraud and conduct unbecoming of an officer, IANS quoted army sources as saying.

The army took action against another lieutenant general PK Rath in January in the same case.

Both officers were accused of bending rules to give permission to a private real estate developer to build an educational institution on land adjacent to a military station in eastern India in 2008.

Prakash had been dismissed from service and would be deprived of pension and other retirement benefits and lose his rank and decorations, army spokesperson SS Phogat said.

A retired officer of the Indian Army can be court martialled for offences committed while in service up to three years after retiring. Prakash retired in January 2010.

The army court's ruling comes at a time when corruption has become a major issue in India after a string of financial scandals involving ministers and officials.