A General Court Martial (GCM) at Jalandhar today ordered the cashiering of Lieutenant General S K Sahni (retd),64,and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment for procuring sub-standard rations for troops. He is only the second Lt Gen to have been punished by a court martial. Lt Gen Sahni,who was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal,was found guilty on six charges related to intent to defraud (Section 52(f) of Army Act) and violation of good order and discipline (Section 63 of Army Act). All charges were related to the period when he was Director General of Supplies and Transport in 2005. Todays order is subject to confirmation by the Chief of the Army Staff. The GCM,which comprised Lt Gen Jatinder Singh as presiding officer,six officers of the rank of Maj Gen,and Col N K Ohri as Judge Advocate,held Lt Gen Sahni guilty of allowing the request of M/s Grainfed for extending the tendering stations with intent to defraud. According to the GCM,during a departmental Court of Inquiry,Lt Gen Sahni did not mention that Kesari Peas and Akra were present in Masur Whole (pulse) making it unfit for human consumption. This,despite the fact that he was aware of this.And yet,with an intent to defraud, Lt Gen Sahniapproved the proposalof one M/s Grainfed to upgrade the stock of Masur Whole. The GCM noted that the trial to upgrade the stock had failed and there was a nexus between the firm with Lt Gen Sahni. These actions of Lt Gen Sahni were colourable, the GCM said,and troops were forced to consume inhuman ration with theattempt to keep the contract alive. Maj Alok Sinha (retd),defence counsel,prayed for lesser punishment as Lt Gen Sahni was under close arrest for about seven months since July 31,2010 and in poor health. Lt Gen Sahni had put in 38 years,nine months and 14 days in Army service and was also awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2003 and retired in 2006. Section 123 of the Army Act was invoked for his trial as he had retired.
