An inquiry into a controversial land deal in Darjeeling has brought two of the seniormost Generals under the scanner and has put on hold the appointment of one of them as the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (DCAS).

The inquiry was ordered after it came to light that an institution, allegedly posing as an affiliate of the Mayo College in Ajmer, obtained no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the Army for the transfer of a large portion of land near the 33 Corps HQ in Sukna, Darjeeling.

The inquiry has put on hold the appointment of Lt Gen P K Rath, who was commanding 33 Corps when the matter came to light, as the DCAS (Information System and Training). The inquiry will also look into the role of all officers involved in granting the NOCs, including current Military Secretary Lt Gen Avadhesh Prakash who was then commanding the Darjeeling-based 17 Mountain Division.

While the next step would be a formal Court of Inquiry (COI), Rath has been attached to the Kolkata-based Eastern Command till the internal inquiry is completed. He was to take charge next month as Deputy Chief at Army HQ. The post will now remain vacant till a decision is taken based on the initial inquiry.

Sources said the inquiry pertains to the sale and transfer of a tea estate in Sukna near the 33 Corps HQ. The estate, which lies close to the HQ, had been put up for sale a few years ago. As it lay adjacent to Defence land, an Army NOC was required for its transfer. The sale was halted after the Army refused to give an NOC, keeping in mind the security of the cantonment.

... contd.