Sukna scam: Rath's 'open arrest' revoked

Lt Gen P K Rath undergoing trial in the general court martial on the Sukna land scam has been released from 'open arrest' which had restricted his movements and activities till the completion of proceedings against him.

Lt Gen P K Rath undergoing trial in the general court martial on the Sukna land scam has been released from 'open arrest' which had restricted his movements and activities till the completion of proceedings against him.

HT Image

Rath's release order was issued by the Eastern Command yesterday, a week after an Armed Forces Tribunal had observed that the Army authorities should reconsider the 'open arrest' in view of Rath's seniority and poor health of his wife.

Rath was placed under open arrest from September 13 when the court martial proceedings against him commenced, restricting his movement and activities till the trial, Army sources here said.

"Since the Army authorities themselves released him, no conditions apply to his release," a source said. Last Wednesday, the Tribunal had dismissed Rath's plea seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him in the ongoing court martial, saying the tribunal cannot interfere in this stage.

The former 33 Corps Commander is facing a court martial here in the case for granting a no-objection certificates to private realtors for a 70-acre piece of land adjacent to the Sukna Military Station for building educational institutions.

Rath was indicted by a Court of Inquiry in the case along with Lt Gens Avadesh Prakash and Ramesh Halgali and Maj Gen P K Sen. Prakash is also facing disciplinary action in the case whereas Halgali and Sen faced only administrative action.

Halgali is presently holding the charge of the Director General of Military Training at the Army headquarters here.