Chandigarh: A Major General of the Indian Army has been cashiered from service and sentenced to one year of rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty in an alleged ₹11 crore medical supply scam. The punishment was awarded by a Summary General Court Martial (SGCM). The officer was accused of irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies while serving as the Commandant of a military hospital in Jammu, allegedly causing financial loss to the government.
The court martial proceedings were conducted under the supervision of Lieutenant General V. Sreehari and concluded in Udhampur on Friday. The SGCM was ordered by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command.
The convicted officer is Major General Devendra Arora, who has since retired from service. He was tried on 18 charges, including 17 counts under Section 52(f) of the Army Act related to intent to defraud and one charge under Section 57(a) of the Act for making fraudulent statements. The SGCM found him guilty on 16 of these charges.
However, the verdict of the court martial is subject to confirmation by the competent authority. The officer has the right to appeal against the findings and sentence before the convening authority and may subsequently approach the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT).
According to the chargesheet, Major General Devendra Arora served as the Commandant of 166 Military Hospital in Jammu from August 2018 to January 2020. During this period, he allegedly procured large quantities of medical stores, including tablets, gels, ointments, dressing materials, and other medical equipment.
Investigators alleged that the quantity and cost of the purchased items were excessive compared to the actual requirements. It was also alleged that incorrect information regarding the availability of medical stores and suppliers was provided in the Propriety Articles Certificates (PAC), which was in violation of provisions under the Defence Procurement Manual-2009.
The case originated after the Army received an anonymous complaint regarding the alleged irregularities. Following the complaint, the Army ordered a one-man inquiry to examine the allegations. A Court of Inquiry was later constituted to establish the facts of the case.
The inquiry was completed in September 2022, following which disciplinary action was initiated against the officer based on the findings and recommendations. During the proceedings, the officer was attached to the 16 Corps headquarters at Nagrota for further action.
During the court martial proceedings, Major General Devendra Arora denied all allegations and challenged the proceedings before the Armed Forces Tribunal. On July 20, the tribunal directed that the findings and sentence of the SGCM should not be implemented without its permission.
The prosecution in the case was represented by retired Brigadier Harish Mitra, while the accused officer was represented by Major S.S. Pandey and Major Piyush Thakran.
The case has highlighted the importance of transparency and financial discipline in defence procurement processes. Officials associated with defence matters have maintained that irregularities in procurement, particularly related to medical supplies, can not only cause financial losses but may also impact the efficiency and credibility of military healthcare services.
The final implementation of the court martial sentence is currently awaiting confirmation from the competent authority. The officer also retains legal options to challenge the verdict through available appellate channels.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
