n a rare and high-profile disciplinary action, Colonel Vikas Pandey of the Army Service Corps (ASC) has been sentenced to six years of Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) and cashiered — dismissed dishonorably from service — after being found guilty of corruption and fraud by a Summary General Court Martial (SGCM) in Chandigarh.
Colonel Pandey, who had commanded the 503 ASC Battalion under the 3 Infantry Division in Ladakh, was tried on seven charges, including one under Section 52(f) of the Army Act (intent to defraud) and six under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The trial, presided over by a Brigadier with three Colonels as members, began on February 16 and concluded late on August 16 at N Area, Chandigarh.
Charges Against the Colonel
According to Army sources, Pandey was accused of:
- Opening and operating a fraudulent “Regimental Fund Account” at YES Bank, Leh, using official battalion stamps.
- Illicitly enriching himself with ₹63.66 lakh deposited in the account during his Ladakh tenure (2020–2021).
- Accepting ₹4 lakh in bribes while posted in Ladakh.
- Purchasing a flat in Jaipur worth ₹32.6 lakh and a BMW worth ₹48.48 lakh in his wife’s name, allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income.
- Receiving an additional ₹21 lakh in cash illegally.
The SGCM found him guilty on all counts.
Background and Next Steps
Army officials revealed that Pandey had been nominated for the prestigious Higher Command course before a complaint triggered an inquiry into financial irregularities. Following a Court of Inquiry and Summary of Evidence, it was decided to proceed with a court-martial.
The sentence will require confirmation by higher Army authorities. Earlier, Pandey had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which ruled that his punishment would remain subject to the outcome of a petition filed in the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT).
If confirmed, the case will stand as one of the strongest anti-corruption actions taken by the Army in recent years.
