Army finds Tehelka-tainted guilty

New Delhi, May 17: THE Army Court of Inquiry has found five senior Army officers guilty of misconduct and corruption in the Tehelka tapes case and recommended appropriate disciplinary action against them.

The officers found guilty are Maj Gen PSK Choudhary, suspended Additional Director General(weapons and equipment) Maj Gen Manjit Singh Ahluwalia, Maj Gen Satnam Singh, Brig Iqbal Singh and Col Anil Sehgal, all currently attached to Army Headquarters here. Besides, procurement officer Lt Col Sharma has been found guilty of improper conduct. The Army Court of Inquiry headed by Lt Gen SK Jain, which began proceedings in early March, submitted its report to General Officer commanding in Chief Western army command Lt Gen Surjit Singh on Monday, official sources said.

The officials said Gen Surjit Singh will take some time to study the report in consultation with his Judge Adjutant General (JAG) branch officials before chalking out the course of disciplinary action against the guilty officers.

Though spokesman remained tightlipped on the recommendations of the inquiry, army sources said the report has found prima facie a case of corruption against the five officers. Highly-placed sources said Gen Surjit Singh has two options. One is to order recording of summary evidence by an officer of the rank of Lt General and then based on a report by Brigadier, Jag Branch, a general court martial proceeding can follow. (PTI)