In a five-year-old bribery case linked to the selection of officer candidates at the Service Selection Centre in Kapurthala, Punjab, the Army has begun court-martial proceedings against a Major General and other officers accused of accepting bribes.
The Indian Army has initiated court-martial proceedings against a Major General and several other officers in connection with an alleged recruitment corruption case linked to the Service Selection Centre (SSC) in Kapurthala, Punjab.
The case stems from a 2021 investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations of bribery and irregularities in the selection of officer candidates through the Services Selection Board (SSB) process.
According to sources, the Army’s action follows a prolonged investigation that began after Military Intelligence detected suspected instances of illegal gratification involving serving officers. The matter was subsequently referred to the Additional Directorate General of Discipline and Vigilance at Army Headquarters, which sought a detailed CBI probe.
The CBI had registered a case against 23 individuals, including serving Army personnel and civilians, over alleged irregularities at multiple SSB centres, including the Kapurthala facility. As part of the investigation, searches were conducted at nearly 30 locations across the country, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh. Investigators reportedly recovered documents and other material linked to the case.
The alleged scam centred on the manipulation of the medical evaluation process for officer candidates. Sources familiar with the investigation said some candidates who had initially been declared medically unfit were later cleared through the Review Medical Board after the payment of bribes.
Investigators alleged that illegal payments ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh were demanded from candidates seeking favourable medical clearances. A serving jawan is also alleged to have maintained records of medically rejected candidates who could be approached for such facilitation.
The Major General, who was serving as the head of the Kapurthala centre during the period under investigation, was recently attached to Headquarters Delhi Area. Around 20 other officers, including some who have since retired, have also been attached to various military formations pending further proceedings.
Sources said the Army invoked Section 123 of the Army Act against the officer on the final day of his service, enabling military authorities to continue disciplinary proceedings despite his retirement. The provision allows the Army to recall retired or discharged personnel accused of offences committed while in service and subject them to military law.
Officials said the investigation initially began following complaints against a junior officer suspected of involvement in recruitment-related malpractices. As the probe expanded, investigators uncovered evidence suggesting the possible involvement of multiple military personnel and civilian intermediaries, including senior-ranking officials.
The Service Selection Centres are responsible for conducting the Services Selection Board tests, a critical component of the officer recruitment process for the Indian Armed Forces.
The court-martial proceedings mark a significant development in one of the most serious allegations of corruption to emerge in the military recruitment system in recent years.
(Image source: Wikipedia)
(A modern display of the Indian National Army trials)
