Antony orders probe into land fraud at Darjeeling Army station

Defence Minister A K Antony ordered a probe into the alleged land fraud at a military station in Darjeeling in which at least two army generals are said to be involved.

Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday ordered a probe into the alleged land fraud at a military station in Darjeeling in which at least two army generals are said to be involved.

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Antony issued the orders to Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar on Thursday, taking note of reports that senior Army officers were allegedly involved in the fraud committed by a private institution, officials said in New Delhi.

The Army has already instituted a court of inquiry into the allegations that the Generals and other senior officers had issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to an institution that bought the land adjacent to the Sukhna military station in Darjeeling a few years ago on the pretext of starting a branch of the famed Ajmer-based Mayo College there.

The Ministry probe, a report of which Antony wanted as soon as possible, would be independent of the Army inquiry, the officials said.

The Defence Minister's action comes a day after he spelt out a zero-tolerance towards corruption and gave an assurance that even senior officers will not go scot free if bribery charges against them are proved.