Indian Army Major General convicted in Rs 11 crore procurement fraud in IIOJK
Srinagar : An Indian Army Major General has been found guilty of irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies worth approximately Rs 11 crore at a military hospital in Jammu district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Major General Devendra Arora of the Indian Army has been cashiered from service and sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of 16 of the 18 charges framed against him under the Army Act.
In a rare instance of disciplinary action against a senior military officer, a Summary General Court-Martial (SGCM) convicted the retired Army Medical Corps officer for irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies worth around Rs 11 crore during his tenure as Commandant of the 166 Military Hospital in Jammu.
The court-martial, presided over by Lt General V. Sreehari, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, concluded in Udhampur. The proceedings had been ordered by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.
The charges included 17 counts under Army Act, relating to intent to defraud, and one count of making fraudulent statements. The SGCM acquitted the officer on two of the 18 charges.
The case relates to Arora’s tenure as Commandant of the 166 Military Hospital in Jammu from August 2018 to January 2020. According to the chargesheet, he authorized the procurement of medical stores—including tablets, gels, ointments, dressings, and medical equipment—in quantities and at costs alleged to be excessive.
He was also accused of providing false information regarding the availability of medical supplies and suppliers.
