Govt deposited ex-soldier’s OROP arrears 7 days after he killed self: Parrikar

Seven days after ex-serviceman Ram Kishan Grewal committed suicide on November 1 allegedly over “One Rank One Pension” (OROP) issue, he government had credited the arrears of Rs 53,978 to his bank account, Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

The concerned bank has informed that he was drawing a pension of Rs 22,608 per month, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said in a written reply when enquired about payment of the benefits of OROP to him.

“He was entitled for revised pension of Rs 25,634 per month, under OROP. The total amount of arrears of Rs 53,978 on account of implementation of OROP has been credited to bank account of late Ex-Subedar Ram Kishan Grewal on November 8, 2016,” he said.

The minister also said Rs 3020.97 crore has been spent this financial year as on November 12 on account of payment of arrears under OROP.

70-year-old Grewal, a resident of Haryana’s Bhiwani district, ended his life on November 1 by consuming poison on the lawns of a government building in Janpath.