Retired Lt-Gen to face trial for divulging arms secrets

NEW DELHI: A retired lieutenant-general is all set to face trial for allegedly divulging sensitive information about the country’s arms and ammunition systems to an international arms firm, impinging upon national security.Following the framing of charges against the accused, additional sessions judge Kaveri Baweja put retired Lieutenant-General Nirmal Puri on trial along with M/s Concord International Pvt Ltd’s official Vinod Khanna, whom the top Army officer had allegedly supplied sensitive information in 1984-87.The duo will be tried under various provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Indian Penal Code.”During the period 1984-87, both of you entered into criminal conspiracy in order to obtain, collect, communicate secret/classified/ official information/documents pertaining to the defence of the country with the purpose that the same may be prejudicial to the safety or interest of the state,” the court stated.Puri is alleged to have prepared two handwritten notes containing classified information regarding equipment like light tanks, radio sets for AFV, training simulators and others. – TOI