Two retired army officials, vying for the top post of country's elitist club, Delhi Gymkhana, are washing dirty linen in public, bringing disrepute to the image of Indian Army. Dozens of leaked e-mails and documents accessed by dna, show that the duo and their supporters have been using 'forged army letters' and 'fraudulent designations' to win over voters. Even the name of present army chief has been dragged in the vilification campaign.
The trigger point between the two decorated officers – LT Gen IJ Singh and Brigadier Gurdeep Singh Uban – is a letter of army headquarter, alleging that Uban was not a Brigadier. The club, which shares wall with the Prime Minister's House at 7-Race Course Road, is scheduled to choose new officer-bearers on September 27. The filing of nominations is expected to begin on September 12.
A chain of mails doing rounds among active club members allege that Uban was never a Brigadier in the club records, or otherwise. Uban has also come out with a denial, and has stated that he had fought the 1971 war. "After a distinguished career of 34 years, I retired in the rank of Brigadier and was even awarded with the Vishisth Seva Medal.''
"I have even mentioned my Brigadier rank while contesting to the club's general committee in 2014,'' Uban said, adding his opponent is running a vilification campaign using a fictitious letter of Army headquarter. "The Army headquarter never issued this letter; I have found it out through an RTI application," Uban argued and showed a copy of RTI to this reporter. Uban warns that his opponent has committed a criminal act and he would file a complaint with the local police.
Lt General I J Singh, however, insists that Uban did misrepresent his rank. There are reports submitted to the army headquarter and the club management from time to time, he added. "Club directory issued in 2005 shows Uban as an IPS officer and the same directories in 2009 and 2013 have registered him as Major General," Lt General Singh said.
In another leaked mail, a retired Vice Admiral and gymkhana member said, "Dragging in the name of present Army chief is totally unacceptable and vexatious comparison. If the General Officer's rank in Army is to be treated in such a cavalier manner by our potential candidate for president, then why is he (Uban) masquerading as a mere Major General why not a Field Marshall".
