The Defence Ministry on Thursday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to look into complaints against two serving major generals of the Indian Army regarding the possession of assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. Major General Ashok Kumar of Army Service Core and Major General SS Lamba of Army Ordinance Core are accused of paying bribes to get promoted, reported India Today.

In September last year, the Defence Ministry had barred the promotion of certain officers following allegations of impropriety, reported PTI. Ministry officials said they have forwarded the complaints against the officers to the CBI.

The Special Promotion Board of the Indian Army held a meeting last year to fill up the vacancy of three lieutenant generals. They took around 33 officers into consideration for the positions, following which they informed the ministry of the shortlisted candidates. However, after several complaints against some of the officers emerged after the board meeting – many of which were circulated on social media platforms – Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar decided to intervene.

The report said that one one of the two officers, against whom the complaints were filed, had faced a CBI inquiry regarding allegations of corruption in a project undertaken by Border Roads Organisation. The investigative agency did not find enough evidence to prosecute him.