Noble Thamburaj
Noble Thamburaj | |
|---|---|
| Vice Chief of the Army Staff | |
| In office 1 January 2009 – 30 September 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Lt Gen Milan Lalitkumar Naidu |
| Succeeded by | Lt Gen Prabodh Chandra Bhardwaj |
| Personal details | |
| Awards |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch/service | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1969–2009 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Bombay Sappers |
| Commands |
|
| Battles/wars |
|
Lieutenant General Noble Thamburaj PVSM, SM is a retired officer of the Indian Army who served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from January 2009 to September 2009.[1]
Military career
Thamburaj was commissioned into the Bombay Sappers in 1969.[1] He participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, commanded the 411 Parachute Field Company and 109 Engineer Regiment, and led a Rashtriya Rifles Sector during Operation Vijay in 1999. He also commanded an infantry division during Operation Parakram in 2001.[1] He held instructional appointments at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
He later served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command before becoming Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 January 2009.[1] He retired from service on 30 September 2009.
Awards and decorations
Thamburaj was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service and the Sena Medal for gallantry. He also received the Chief of Army Staff’s Commendation Card twice.[1]
Legal proceedings
In January 2012, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Thamburaj for alleged irregularities in a land lease deal in Pune Cantonment, claiming he had favored a private builder.[2] He denied wrongdoing and stated that the decisions were collective and approved through proper procedure.[3]
He was granted anticipatory bail in July 2012 by a special CBI court.[4] In December 2013, the CBI closed the case, citing a lack of evidence.[5]
Post-retirement
Thamburaj has been active in supporting educational and veteran welfare programs. He has served as the Colonel Commandant of the Bombay Sappers and has appeared in interviews discussing military values and training.[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Lt Gen Thamburaj new Indian Army vice-chief". The New Indian Express. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Pune land scam: Former Army Vice-Chief Gen Nobel Thamburaj booked by CBI". India Today. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Why am I singled out, asks Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj". NDTV. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Land lease case: Lt General Noble Thamburaj gets anticipatory bail". The Times of India. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "CBI closes case against former Army vice-chief Lt Gen Nobel Thamburaj". The Times of India. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
- ^ "Interview with Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj". YouTube. Retrieved 17 May 2025.