Shillong, Sep 28 (IANS) The Assam Rifles chief, Lt. Gen. Rameshwar Roy, Wednesday expressed ‘surprise’ over the charges of financial impropriety against him.
‘I have no comment on the issue and I am surprised at the reports,’ Roy, who heads India’s oldest paramilitary post, told IANS over phone, but refused to elaborate.
Roy has been accused of spending the regimental funds of the paramilitary force on his wife’s clothing, hair dressing and other gifts.
The Indian Army has sought the government’s permission to initiate a formal probe against Roy.
‘We have got some complaints and we have forwarded the matter to the home ministry for further action,’ Defence Minister A.K. Antony told journalists in Delhi Tuesday.
Defence ministry sources said army chief Gen. V.K. Singh has written to Home Secretary R.K. Singh demanding the repatriation of Roy, a serving army officer, to his parent force.
The army headquarters, the sources said, had documentary evidence that the officer spent at least Rs.23,000 of regimental funds of Assam Rifles for personal expenses, especially on his wife.
An initial probe conducted by the army headquarters had established the authenticity of the documents.
As and when he is sent back to the army, Roy is all set to face a formal court of inquiry.
