Two Generals under scanner in probe into Darjeeling real estate fraud

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.

The Army instead offered to buy the land from the tea estate owner,given its location. But in an about turn,the sale and transfer was cleared later after the institution pleaded that it would be setting up a school on the property and was an affiliate for Mayo College. The NOC for transfer of land was allegedly granted on this very basis,sources said.

After construction work began on the tea estate,it came to light that the Mayo College had nothing to do with the land and told the Army it did not have any affiliate that was setting up a school in Darjeeling. The Army inquiry was launched shortly afterwards and Rath was asked to stay back in Darjeeling till a report came in.