Sukna scam: Lt Gen Prakash to face General Court Martial

New Delhi, May 19 (PTI) Found guilty by Army Court of
Inquiry (CoI) for his role in Sukna land scam, Lt General
Avadhesh Prakash will face General Court Martial (GCM) next
month.
"The CoI was completed last year. All necessary
formalities would be completed before the Court Martial
starts," Defence Ministry officials said here on Thursday,
indicating that it will begin next month.
Prakash, who held the rank of MS during the tenure of
General Deepak Kapoor as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and
retired from service last year, was pronounced guilty by CoI
for his role in illegal transfer of defence land in Eastern
Army Command.
The officials said the GCM would take place at Leimakhong
in Manipur in June and it would be presided over by Lt General
Phillip Compose who is presently serving as Director General
(DG), Perspective Planning branch.
On possible punishment to Prakash, officials said it
could range from a severe reprimand, stripping of ranks or
loss of pension.
Lt Gen Prakash along with then 33 Corps commander Lt Gen
P K Rath, his Chief of Staff Lt General Ramesh Halgali and the
Administrative Head of Sukna military station, Major General P
K Sen were found guilty of illegal transfer of defence land to
a private developer.
The officers were found guilty of illegally transferring
70 acres of land adjacent to the Sukna military Station to a
private realtor for constructing an educational institution.
Army has already punished Rath, after a GCM found him
guilty earlier this year, with a severe reprimand, two-year
loss of seniority and 15 years' loss of service for pension
benefits.
Administrative action were initiated against Lt General
Halgali and Major General Sen.