Wednesday, March 2 2005 19:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ferozepur (Punjab): A military court today (March 2, 2005) sentenced a senior Army officer to one-year rigorous imprisonment and dismissed him from service after finding him guilty of accepting illegal gratification and committing professional impropriety in the Tehelka Arms deal expose.

The seven-member General Court Martial (GCM), headed by Director General of Defence Artillery Lt Gen C S Chhinna, awarded the punishment to Maj Gen P S K Chaudhary finding him guilty on the basis of the videotapes produced by the Tehelka portal.

The accused was found guilty on the basis of the tapes produced by the portal, which showed Chaudhary accepting Rs one lakh in cash besides a gold chain and interacting with representatives of a fictitious foreign Arms dealer.

The punishment is subject to confirmation by competent authorities in this case, the Chief of Army Staff.