The defence ministry's Controller General Defence Accounts has questioned the army for procuring ration for 14 lakh personnel during 2010-11 while its actual strength is only about 11.5 lakh.
An internal audit has exposed the Indian Army for supplying ration to at least 2.5 lakh 'ghost' soldiers who either do not exist or draw the double benefit of free cooked meals plus the ration monthly allowance.
The army tried to wriggle out claiming the excess procurement was required to feed the jawans of the Border Roads Organisation, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and civilian labour working for the force, but the CGDA did not buy this excuse.
The audit by the CGDA showed that 10 lakh personnel were being supplied cooked meals while about Rs 670 crore was spent for ration in cash. Either more rations were procured than requirement or a large number of personnel were taking the free