Army: action initiated against tent, egg scam defaulters

The Army on Thursday said investigations into the ‘tent and egg scam’ at the Northern Command have brought out procedural aberrations...

The Army on Thursday said investigations into the ‘tent and egg scam’ at the Northern Command have brought out ‘procedural aberrations’ in the procurement process and strict administrative action had been ordered against defaulting personnel.

“The two inquiries have already been completed and appropriate administrative actions against defaulters have already been initiated. These were examples of strict standards maintained by the Army to investigate even smallest procedural aberrations and fix accountability,” an Army officer said.

The Army said the investigations were conducted by a court whose members were assured of ‘institutionalised legal and investigative independence’ and termed the transfer of a top General two weeks after the inquiry concluded as ‘routine’. The official said the transfer would not have any effect on the inquiry.

The ‘tent scam’—in which lapses were found in the purchase of tents and related equipment by the Northern Command—rocked the Army last year and administrative action was initiated against several officers, including a Major General. The egg scam, in which for years officers purchased eggs weighing only 40 grams against the minimum weight mandated as 48 grams, was also unravelled at the Northern Command last year.