Former general in army custody for court martial

JALANDHAR - Army authorities at the 11 Corps here Friday took a top retired army officer in custody ahead of his court martial over corruption charges in a ration scam.

Lt. Gen. Surendra K. Sahni, who retired in 2006, is the most senior army officer to be facing a General Court Martial (GCM).

The proceedings against him are to begin Friday in this Punjab city, 150 km from Chandigarh.

Sahni, who is from the Army Service Corps (ASC), was indicted by a probe by the army authorities for alleged supply of substandard meat and dry rations to troops stationed at high altitude areas, including the Siachen glacier.

The officer has been accused of allowing the purchase of expired rations for troops during his tenure as director general of the ASC.

Army spokesperson Naresh Vig said the movement of the former general had been restricted since Thursday by the military police.

Sahni had Thursday got himself admitted to the military hospital here.

A court of inquiry found him guilty of the charges.