Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor would be on an official visit to Maldives from February 11 to February 14. The Army Chief, during his visit, will interact with the Maldivian President, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Forces and a number of other dignitaries.
Gen. Kapoor would also be visiting the newly established Headquarters Southern Areas of Maldives National Defence Forces and would be paying tributes at the Memorial of Indian Soldiers on the Island of Gan.
He would also be discussing subjetcs of mutual concerns such as training of Maldivian Armed Forces personnel in various fields.
The Chief’s visit will further cement our close defence ties with Maldives and provide an impetus to our on-going defence cooperation, said a release.
The visit holds significance in the light of increasing bilateral and defence cooperation between the India and Maldives.
The present visit to Maldives has been undertaken after a gap of three years since the last COAS visited Maldives in February 2007.
The friendship between India and Maldives is based on common ideals and principles, arising from a significant legacy of historic links and common culture. It is pertinent to mention that India was the first country to recognise Maldives on its independence in 1965.
Showing posts with label Deepak Kapoor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deepak Kapoor. Show all posts
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Military Secretary faces court martial
Chief of the Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor, on Friday accepted the advice of Defence Minister A.K. Antony by ordering court martial proceedings against Military Secretary Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash for his alleged involvement in a land scam in the Darjeeling area of West Bengal. He would be the first three-star general to face such action.
General Kapoor was overruled by Mr. Antony who felt the alleged misdemeanours of General Prakash were serious enough to merit a court martial and not just disciplinary proceedings preferred by the Army chief.
As Military Secretary, General Prakash is one of the closest aides to the Army chief in dealing with daily matters and policy planning. The general is due to retire in a couple of days.
General Prakash was indicted in an internal probe at the command level along with the then 33 Corps Commander Lieutenant General P.K. Rath, his Chief of Staff at that time, Lieutenant General Ramesh Halgali and then Brigadier Administration Major General P.C. Sen. Following a court of inquiry, Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General V.K. Singh, who will be the next Army chief, had recommended termination of service of General Prakash and administrative action against the other officers.
The controversy arose after General Kapoor recommended court martial proceedings against Lieutenant General Rath and issued show-cause notice to others for administrative action. It was felt by many in the Army that General Kapoor was being unfair as all four officers should have been meted out the same punishment. Mr. Antony overruled the Army chief.
The officers were found culpable by an internal probe for overruling their predecessors and issuing a no objection certificate to a private developer to lease 71 acres of land next to the Sukna military station near Darjeeling. The developer was also found to have falsely represented that he would open an educational institution affiliated to the prestigious Mayo College, Ajmer.
The probe at the command level had allegedly indicted Lieutenant General Rath for inking a pact with the property developer provided a certain percentage of seats was reserved for children of armed forces personnel. Lieutenant General Prakash was seen as being too interested in the case and persuading his juniors to pursue the deal. Lieutenant General Halgali was alleged to have suppressed information from his seniors and Major General P.C. Sen was said to have played an active role in discussions with the developer during his tenure at the 33 Corps headquarters.
General Kapoor was overruled by Mr. Antony who felt the alleged misdemeanours of General Prakash were serious enough to merit a court martial and not just disciplinary proceedings preferred by the Army chief.
As Military Secretary, General Prakash is one of the closest aides to the Army chief in dealing with daily matters and policy planning. The general is due to retire in a couple of days.
General Prakash was indicted in an internal probe at the command level along with the then 33 Corps Commander Lieutenant General P.K. Rath, his Chief of Staff at that time, Lieutenant General Ramesh Halgali and then Brigadier Administration Major General P.C. Sen. Following a court of inquiry, Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General V.K. Singh, who will be the next Army chief, had recommended termination of service of General Prakash and administrative action against the other officers.
The controversy arose after General Kapoor recommended court martial proceedings against Lieutenant General Rath and issued show-cause notice to others for administrative action. It was felt by many in the Army that General Kapoor was being unfair as all four officers should have been meted out the same punishment. Mr. Antony overruled the Army chief.
The officers were found culpable by an internal probe for overruling their predecessors and issuing a no objection certificate to a private developer to lease 71 acres of land next to the Sukna military station near Darjeeling. The developer was also found to have falsely represented that he would open an educational institution affiliated to the prestigious Mayo College, Ajmer.
The probe at the command level had allegedly indicted Lieutenant General Rath for inking a pact with the property developer provided a certain percentage of seats was reserved for children of armed forces personnel. Lieutenant General Prakash was seen as being too interested in the case and persuading his juniors to pursue the deal. Lieutenant General Halgali was alleged to have suppressed information from his seniors and Major General P.C. Sen was said to have played an active role in discussions with the developer during his tenure at the 33 Corps headquarters.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Army Chief orders court martial of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash
Two days after Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s diktat, Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor on Friday ordered court martial proceedings against Military Secretary Lt. Gen. Avadesh Prakash in the Sukna land scam, the senior-most three-star officer ever to face such an action.
“The Army Chief has ordered disciplinary action against Lt. Gen. Prakash, who will face a court martial in Sukna land scam. The Chief has stuck to the advice from the Defence Minister in the case,” ministry officials said.
Gen. Kapoor was on Wednesday overruled by Mr. Antony, who directed him to take disciplinary action instead of administrative action against Lt. Gen. Prakash, considered close to the Chief. This was the first instance of a Defence Minister overturning the Army Chief’s decision in a disciplinary case.
As Military Secretary, Lt. Gen. Prakash is one of the top aides of the Army Chief handling postings, appointments and transfers but is due to retire from service on January 31. The proceedings against him can continue even after his superannuation.
Lt. Gen. Prakash was found culpable in the Sukna land scam along with the then 33 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath, his Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgali and the then Brigadier Administration Maj. Gen. P.C. Sen.
After the Court of Inquiry indicted all the General-ranked officers in the case, Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. V.K. Singh, who is the Army Chief-designate, had recommended “termination of service” of Lt. Gen. Prakash and administrative action against the other officers.
However, Gen. Kapoor chose to court martial Lt. Gen. Rath and issued show-cause notice to others for administrative action, prompting Antony to ask why the officers, found culpable by the probe for the same offence under Army Act, were meted out different punishments and “advised” disciplinary action against Lt. Gen. Prakash too.
The scam relates to issue of a ‘No Objection certificate’ by the Army’s 33 Corps officers to a private realtor Dalip Aggarwal to buy a 71-acre piece of land adjacent to the Sukna military station near Darjeeling in West Bengal, much against earlier objections by previous officers holding office of 33 Corps.
Mr. Aggarwal had “falsely” represented to the Army that he would open an educational institution affiliated to the Ajmer-based Mayo College.
The probe had reportedly held Lt. Gen. Rath culpable for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Aggarwal for allotting a percentage of the seats in the educational institution to wards of army personnel serving in the military station.
In the case of Lt. Gen. Prakash, the probe’s “findings” were believed to be that he took undue interest in getting the NOC issued and the MoU signed between Mr. Aggarwal and the Army and had also “influenced” his junior officers to go ahead with the deal.
Lt. Gen. Prakash, being the Military Secretary, is in charge of postings and appointments of all officers in the Army and hence is considered an important aide of the Army Chief.
In the case of other General-rank officers, Lt. Gen. Halgali’s role was said to have been limited to “omissions” as he had not intimated his higher ups on the happenings at the military station with regard to the NOC episode.
Maj. Gen. Sen, who is at present in the Eastern Army Commander headquarters, had during his tenure as Brigadier Administration of 33 Corps under Lt. Gen. Rath reportedly had “an active role” in the talks with Mr. Aggarwal for issuing the NOC.
“The Army Chief has ordered disciplinary action against Lt. Gen. Prakash, who will face a court martial in Sukna land scam. The Chief has stuck to the advice from the Defence Minister in the case,” ministry officials said.
Gen. Kapoor was on Wednesday overruled by Mr. Antony, who directed him to take disciplinary action instead of administrative action against Lt. Gen. Prakash, considered close to the Chief. This was the first instance of a Defence Minister overturning the Army Chief’s decision in a disciplinary case.
As Military Secretary, Lt. Gen. Prakash is one of the top aides of the Army Chief handling postings, appointments and transfers but is due to retire from service on January 31. The proceedings against him can continue even after his superannuation.
Lt. Gen. Prakash was found culpable in the Sukna land scam along with the then 33 Corps Commander Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath, his Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ramesh Halgali and the then Brigadier Administration Maj. Gen. P.C. Sen.
After the Court of Inquiry indicted all the General-ranked officers in the case, Eastern Army Commander Lt. Gen. V.K. Singh, who is the Army Chief-designate, had recommended “termination of service” of Lt. Gen. Prakash and administrative action against the other officers.
However, Gen. Kapoor chose to court martial Lt. Gen. Rath and issued show-cause notice to others for administrative action, prompting Antony to ask why the officers, found culpable by the probe for the same offence under Army Act, were meted out different punishments and “advised” disciplinary action against Lt. Gen. Prakash too.
The scam relates to issue of a ‘No Objection certificate’ by the Army’s 33 Corps officers to a private realtor Dalip Aggarwal to buy a 71-acre piece of land adjacent to the Sukna military station near Darjeeling in West Bengal, much against earlier objections by previous officers holding office of 33 Corps.
Mr. Aggarwal had “falsely” represented to the Army that he would open an educational institution affiliated to the Ajmer-based Mayo College.
The probe had reportedly held Lt. Gen. Rath culpable for signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Aggarwal for allotting a percentage of the seats in the educational institution to wards of army personnel serving in the military station.
In the case of Lt. Gen. Prakash, the probe’s “findings” were believed to be that he took undue interest in getting the NOC issued and the MoU signed between Mr. Aggarwal and the Army and had also “influenced” his junior officers to go ahead with the deal.
Lt. Gen. Prakash, being the Military Secretary, is in charge of postings and appointments of all officers in the Army and hence is considered an important aide of the Army Chief.
In the case of other General-rank officers, Lt. Gen. Halgali’s role was said to have been limited to “omissions” as he had not intimated his higher ups on the happenings at the military station with regard to the NOC episode.
Maj. Gen. Sen, who is at present in the Eastern Army Commander headquarters, had during his tenure as Brigadier Administration of 33 Corps under Lt. Gen. Rath reportedly had “an active role” in the talks with Mr. Aggarwal for issuing the NOC.
