Irregularities in meat purchase for IPKF troops: HC sets aside trial court conviction of Army officer

Chennai, Oct 4 (PTI) The Madras High Court has set aside an order of a trial court, convicting and sentencing an army officer to two years Rigorous Imprisonment for certain alleged irregularities in the purchase of tinned meat for the then Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) troops stationed in Sri Lanka during the year 1987.

Justice G Jayachandran set aside a May 2013 order of the XIV Additional Court for CBI cases recently while allowing an appeal from Major General A K Gupta.

The judge said a witness from the records had explained the supply and delivery of tinned Kheema on various dates continued till February 6, 1988. He admitted that the purchase of the items were top secret and movement of troops, movement of food items, supply were all top secret. From the above evidence, it was clear the decision to go for local purchase was not an unilateral action of the accused, but it was a collective decision.