New Delhi:
In huge embarrassment for the Army, a Lieutenant General, AK Nanda, who works in the Army Chief's office, has been accused of sexual misconduct by the wife of a junior officer. An investigation is on, but the Army says the charges may be false and the General's wife stands firmly by him.
The Army has denied reports that Lt Gen Nanda has been sacked or asked to quit. Two very senior officers are reportedly investigating the charges.
The wife of Nanda's technical secretary had complained that he molested her during a visit to Israel last month. Nanda and his team had gone to Israel along with their families on an official trip. The technical officer holds the rank of a Colonel.
Nanda, 59, is the senior-most Army officer to face such charges. He is one of eight Principal Staff Officers to the Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh, and as such, a key advisor.
Army sources say while an inquiry is on, prima facie, major loopholes have been found in the allegations and there is suspicion against officers within the Engineering Directorate. The sources say this could be an attempt to frame Nanda.
Some officers, the sources say, stand to benefit if Nanda goes out now. Nanda had taken over as Engineer-in-Chief about a year ago. He had earlier served as the Director General of the Border Roads Organisation.
The Army sources say that on the trip to Israel, the officers' wives had joined them much later. Nanda's wife, Neerja, has also made a statement defending her husband and saying she was with him all through the trip and no such incident happened. (Read: General's wife stands by him)
The junior officer's wife complained against Nanda to the Army Chief's wife Bharti Singh, who is also the president of the Army Wives Welfare Association.
The Army has denied reports that Lt Gen Nanda has been sacked or asked to quit. Two very senior officers are reportedly investigating the charges.
The wife of Nanda's technical secretary had complained that he molested her during a visit to Israel last month. Nanda and his team had gone to Israel along with their families on an official trip. The technical officer holds the rank of a Colonel.
Nanda, 59, is the senior-most Army officer to face such charges. He is one of eight Principal Staff Officers to the Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh, and as such, a key advisor.
Army sources say while an inquiry is on, prima facie, major loopholes have been found in the allegations and there is suspicion against officers within the Engineering Directorate. The sources say this could be an attempt to frame Nanda.
Some officers, the sources say, stand to benefit if Nanda goes out now. Nanda had taken over as Engineer-in-Chief about a year ago. He had earlier served as the Director General of the Border Roads Organisation.
The Army sources say that on the trip to Israel, the officers' wives had joined them much later. Nanda's wife, Neerja, has also made a statement defending her husband and saying she was with him all through the trip and no such incident happened. (Read: General's wife stands by him)
The junior officer's wife complained against Nanda to the Army Chief's wife Bharti Singh, who is also the president of the Army Wives Welfare Association.
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