Indian Army Officers, Middlemen Arrested By CBI For Illegal Exchange Of Money:- The Indian Army Officers have been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly running a racket of illegal transfers and postings.

The army officers have been identified as Lt Colonel Ranganathan Suvramani Moni, Army Officer Purushottam and middlemen identified as Gaurav Kohli. The officers along with other senior officers have been charged for seeking monetary gratification from officers to grant them favorable postings.

Moreover, the officers have been charged with criminal conspiracy, demand and acceptance of illegal gratification and using influence over public servant.

Under the Sections 7, 8, 12, 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), an FIR has been registered. On Friday, Lt Colonel Ranganthan posted with the Army HQ was arrested.

According to the information that was received, Ranganathan, with Gaurav Kohli, Purshottam and others entered into criminal conspiracy for ensuring transfer or posting of different officers to their place of choice in lieu of payment of huge illegal gratification.

Purshottam contacted army officers, who are either posted in different field formation or facing imminent transfer and desirous of posting at different locations. He then contacted Gaurav Kohli, who is having close acquaintance with many officers posted in Personnel Division of Army Head Quarter, for pursuing transfer of these officials, said the CBI.

The CBI said, Ranganathan’s arrest is for personal improper practices and seeking of money gratification. Lt Colonel Moni was caught taking Rs. 2 lakh to facilitate the transfer of a Bengaluru-based army officer. The police complaint also names a Brigadier but his name has not been included in the list of accused.

In a recent case, investigated by the CBI, around Rs 5 lakhs was given to Kohli by an army officer, allegedly through hawala channels.

Since 1994 Lt Col Moni, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram, has been in the army and in last year August, was posted at the army headquarters.

The investigations are still ongoing said the CBI officers. Meanwhile, the army said it would wait for the investigation and co operate with the CBI.

SUPRAJA