Probe against Army JAG begins

A one-man inquiry into allegations of impropriety against the Army's Judge Advocate General (JAG), Major General Nilendra Kumar, has begun in Secunderabad.

Several senior officers have recorded their statements with Lt General K.S. Venugopal, who is conducting the inquiry. Sources say Lt Gen Venugopal has heard the depositions of several witnesses, which includes a Brigadier from the Discipline and Vigilance branch of the Army Headquarters, a Colonel from the Military Secretary's Branch (MS Legal) and a Lt Colonel from the Judge Advocate General's branch who is the chief complainant against the JAG.

Earlier, replying to a query from HT about the inquiry, the spokesperson for the Army had said, "One-man enquiry is instituted to ascertain necessity of formal investigations, if any, against very senior persons where character and reputation of concerned official may be at stake. This is in accordance with advice of the judiciary so as to prevent unnecessary litigations pertaining to defamation.”

Meanwhile, a former officer of JAG branch, Col S.K. Aggarwal (retd), informed HT that he too has deposed before Lt Gen Venugopal in New Delhi where he listed the various improprieties allegedly committed by the General. “I was examined by Venugopal and I gave him all the details about the case. I was asked around 11 questions by the inquiry officer before getting my signatures on the statement made by me," said Col Aggarwal.