NEW DELHI, An Indian Army Major has been discharged from his duties following discoveries of him possessing and disseminating classified data.

According to Kashmir Media Service reports that the Major, previously positioned with the Strategic Forces Command responsible for India’s nuclear weapons, was found in breach of security protocols by storing classified details on his mobile device. This finding was confirmed by sources within the defense and security sectors, as reported by local media. The Major had been suspended the previous year.

Further investigations revealed that the Major was part of a WhatsApp group named “Patiala Peg”, where unauthorized discussions allegedly occurred. Twenty other officers, inclusive of a Brigadier-ranked official, were members of this group. These officers are currently under scrutiny for reasons related to the mentioned group. The investigation led to the confiscation and analysis of the Major’s phone where the group’s existence was discovered.

It was reported that suspicions surrounding the Major’s activities initiated in March 2022 when pertinent authorities flagged his alleged engagement in dubious acts, which included possession and distribution of sensitive material. The President, who also acts as the supreme commander of the military forces, sanctioned the order to terminate the Major’s services about a week prior. This decision, taken under the Army Act, 1950, was formally issued in mid-September and made official post the President’s endorsement.