Dec.22, unknown year: possibly 2003
Hindustan Times
Vishal Thapar,
A very senior officer of the Indian Army has resigned after being asked to quit over charges of sexual misconduct with a fellow soldier. This is the first time an officer of three-star rank has been eased out for sexual misconduct of this kind.
The lieutenant-general was relieved of his command of a corps in the north-east and presented with a fait accompli. The army leadership told him that his resignation would save him the ignominy of a court martial.
Officially, the army was not letting on much, but it did not deny the charges against the former corps commander. "The lieutenant-general asked for premature retirement on personal grounds and that was granted by the army," army spokesman Colonel Anil Shorey told HT.
The spokesman declined to comment on the nature of the "personal grounds:" and the circumstances that brought them about.
A Sappers (Corps of Engineers) soldier had blown the whistle on the general.
The GOC-in-C of the Eastern Command, Lieutenant-General J.S. Varma, took serious note of the complaint, which was backed by corroborative evidence, highly placed MoD sources said.
"The action taken against this general has set an example on how such cases will be dealt with in the future," a senior officer said. The problem of homosexuality in this virtually all-male force is seldom acknowledged, but the severity of the action intended to convey a strong signal down the line.
The general was allowed to go home with his rank, pension and other benefits.
While this case is unprecedented, the armed forces have in the past taken the toughest action against those courting wives of "brother officers".
In 2000, the commander of the 14 Corps in Ladakh had quit amidst reports of charges of this nature.
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