New Delhi: The Army, in keeping with its chief Gen Bipin Rawat acting tough against corruption, has launched 'Mission Cobra' to weed out corrupt practices and ensure maximum possible transparency in military contracts. 

A letter in this regard has been written by a senior officer of the Army, Major Gen Rajeev Choudhary, to all the formations under his office in the southern command. The officer is posted as the chief engineer of the southern command.

"I write this letter to convey directions of the Army chief during various forums to ensure transparency and eradicate corruption... Weeding out of corrupt practices of those involved in contract management and supervision, irrespective of their rank structure," the officer wrote in the letter.

"Right from the first day of my taking over as chief engineer, southern command, it has been my endevaour to ensure transparency and zero tolerance to corrupt practices. Mission COBRA was and will remain my key result area," the letter said. 

The officer has asked the subordinate formations that "directions of the Army chief will be taken very seriously and will be promulgated as well as acted upon by all under your command".
Taking a tough stand, Army chief Gen Rawat made it clear to the Army commanders that cases of moral turpitude and corruption will not be tolerated, and asked them to deal very sternly with such cases.

According to sources, cases of moral turpitude will not be tolerated even if the relationships are consensual as the Army brass feels that the force is like a big family and showing leniency in such cases may affect its moral fabric.