Pension relief to Lt General dismissed in Sukna land scam

Lt Gen Prakash had been serving as a military secretary in the Army headquarters when he was charged of misusing his position to ensure that a no-objection certificate (NOC) was issued by HQs 33 Corps in Sukna near Siliguri in West Bengal for 71 acres of land to a private person for constructing an educational institution. The inquiry against him had been ordered by the then Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh (retd), who is now the Minister of State for External Affairs.

Lt Gen Prakash had alleged that the action against him had been allegedly initiated by General VK Singh because he had been an impediment in letting him have his way for getting his date of birth amended for a longer tenure as Army chief. However, after the court of inquiry held him guilty in 2011, a GCM was conducted against him under Section 45 of the Army Act for “unbecoming conduct” of an Army officer and Section 52 which deals with the intent to defraud.

The trial sentenced him to dismissal from service which meant that Lt General Prakash was not entitled to pension or using his military title. The sentence was confirmed in May 2012 by the then Army chief General VK Singh, just before he retired from service. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General PK Rath, former 33 Corps Commander, had also been court martialled in the Sukna land scam case. His court martial, however, was quashed by the AFT in 2014.