Shillong: Lt Gen P K Rath undergoing
trial in the general court martial on the Sukna land scam has
been released from `open arrest` which had restricted his
movements and activities till the completion of proceedings
against him.
Rath`s release order was issued by the Eastern Command
yesterday, a week after an Armed Forces Tribunal had observed
that the Army authorities should reconsider the `open arrest`
in view of Rath`s seniority and poor health of his wife.
Rath was placed under open arrest from September 13 when
the court martial proceedings against him commenced,
restricting his movement and activities till the trial, Army
sources here said.
"Since the Army authorities themselves released him, no
conditions apply to his release," a source said.
Last Wednesday, the Tribunal had dismissed Rath`s plea
seeking quashing of the charges levelled against him in the
ongoing court martial, saying the tribunal cannot interfere in
this stage.
The former 33 Corps Commander is facing a court martial
here in the case for granting a no-objection certificates to
private realtors for a 70-acre piece of land adjacent to the
Sukna Military Station for building educational institutions.
Rath was indicted by a Court of Inquiry in the case along
with Lt Gens Avadesh Prakash and Ramesh Halgali and Maj Gen P
K Sen.
Prakash is also facing disciplinary action in the case
whereas Halgali and Sen faced only administrative action.
Halgali is presently holding the charge of the Director
General of Military Training at the Army headquarters here.
PTI
