Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that action had been initiated against serving and retired army officers for selling/disposing of firearms illegally.
“Sriganganagar District Collector (in Rajasthan) provided a list of officers who sold their non-service pattern weapons (NSP). The list included two major generals and two brigadiers,” he said.
A non-service pattern weapon is one for which a licence can be obtained.
He said that administrative /disciplinary action had been initiated against 41 army officers, a junior commissioned officer and four retired officers for selling NSP weapons in violation of rules.
A court of inquiry had been held for this purpose.
Antony said that the court of inquiry, however, did not find them personally involved in the matter.
In reply to a question by BJP MP Gyan Prakash Pilania, Antony said that 25 officers in possession of more ammunition than authorised for their non-service pattern weapons had been censured.
Hindustan Times reported in 2007 on illegal sales of weapons by army officials in the grey market with the help of ammunition dealers in two border districts of Rajasthan.