M A I N   N E W S

GCM sacks Colonel for fraud
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 11 — A general court martial (GCM) has dismissed a senior Army officer posted at the Equine Breeding Stud (EBS), Hisar, on several charges of intent to defraud by wrongfully indenting for medical supplies amounting to several lakhs of rupees, it is learnt.

The GCM, presided over by Brig Rana S.K. Singh of HQ 67 Infantry Brigade Brigade, has held Lieut-Col S.K. Sarangi of Establishment 22 (SSF) guilty on four of the seven charges levelled against him under various provisions of the Army Act. The GCM concluded at Faridkot last week and the sentence has been forwarded to the higher authorities for confirmation.

The accused officer, pleading not guilty, had contended that the charges had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt. During the entire period, he maintained, his performance was supervised by the Commandant and the Deputy Commandant and no irregularities had been detected during periodical checks and audit.

Between May 1998 and July 1998, 14 “unlinked” vouchers for issue of medical stores from the Armed Forces Medical Supply Depot (AFMSD), at Delhi were discovered. When an officer from the EBS visited the AFMSD, he found seven more unlinked vouchers. The items had been collected by the EBS’ Station Quartermaster Dafadar, Sowar S. Jaya Kumar, but had not been received at Hisar or taken on ledger charge.

Following a court of inquiry, the accused officer was charged under Sections 52 and 63 of the Army Act for asking stores, including medicines, chemicals and x-ray films in excess and without reflecting the store balance. Further, he failed to ensure the receipt, documentation and accounting of the stores, collected through Sowar Jaya Kumar. Also, he relieved Jaya Kumar without properly taking over the stores.

The defence, which did not examine any witnesses but cross-examined all eight prosecution witnesses, had contended that it was due to heavy work load that the officer could not check some figures related to the indenting of supplies. Also, the quantity of stores demanded by him was not in excess.

The defence contended that certain items were not received at Hisar at all and hence the officer could not be held responsible for their documentation and accounting. The officer had also contended that he had been following procedures prevalent in the EBS as no standard operating procedure existed on indenting for supplies.

On the charge of improper issue of the movement order of Sowar Jaya Kumar, the defence maintained that it was issued on the directions of the Commandant, Brig B.S. Hans, and was handed over to the jawan by the Deputy Commandant, Col S.C. George. He, therefore should not be held responsible for merely signing it.

Earlier, in his directions to the court of Inquiry, the then GOC 10 Corps, Lieut-Gen G.K. Duggal, had said administrative action should be taken against the Deputy Commandant. He had also directed that action be taken against Sowar Jaya Kumar (since absconding). A GCM, dismissing him, sentenced him to three years rigorious imprisonment. The centre Commandant was also directed to ensure that all procedures specified by Army the Headquarters be adhered to.

The GOC also recommended disciplinary action against two civilian EBS employees, besides conducting a staff COI at AFMSD to fix responsibility for all fraudulent transactions between 1995 and 1998 and finding if a nexus existing between local audit officers, AFMSD and army personnel.