Army Officers Misuse Vehicles and Jawans for Golf in Pune While Commanders Look Away
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Yerwada, 20th September 2025: At the manicured fairways of the Poona Golf Club, Yerwada – a colonial relic turned playground for Pune’s elite – Indian Army olive-green Tata Safaris pull up like VIP escorts at a taxpayer-funded party. Senior officers, dressed in polo shirts instead of uniforms, step out for a leisurely nine holes. Behind the wheel, jawans in full military fatigues double as chauffeurs and reluctant caddies.
What should be a symbol of discipline and integrity instead reeks of entitlement. Military vehicles, meant for logistics and duties, are being diverted to ferry officers to golf sessions. Eyewitnesses tell Punekar News this is no isolated lapse but a weekly ritual. “I saw a senior Army officer get down from a Tata Safari, which is allotted to high-ranking officers. The driver, Jawan in olive green uniform, stood waiting like a valet,” said one source, who requested anonymity.
This practice directly violates the rules, which strictly reserve government vehicles and drivers for official duty. More troubling is the misuse of soldiers as personal orderlies – prohibited under Army Rules.
After verifying the facts at the golf course, Punekar News sent Southern Command HQ a detailed media query. Reminders were ignored. No denial, no clarification, no response – silence that suggests complicity.
The problem is not new. CAG audits since 2019 have flagged “widespread abuse” of Army transport assets in peace stations like Pune – vehicles used for shopping trips, private functions, and falsified mileage logs bleeding crores in reimbursements. A 2023 court-martial of a colonel for fake vehicle hire bills barely scratched the surface.
Serving and retired officers confirm this is systemic. “Vehicles are war assets, not golf carts,” said a retired lieutenant general. “When juniors see this behaviour go unchecked, discipline erodes.” A serving colonel added: “In field areas, such misuse would trigger a Court of Inquiry immediately. In Pune, it’s winked away.”
The irony is stark. While soldiers in Siachen ration fuel at minus 50°C, Pune’s brass treat government vehicles like personal limos. A jawan stands idling outside a club where green fees run about ₹5,000, while city residents choke on potholed roads. Public trust, already strained by scams like Adarsh and Sukna, takes another hit.
Southern Command’s refusal to respond only deepens the perception of cover-up. Leadership here appears more focused on shielding reputations than upholding accountability. The Army’s motto may be “Service Before Self” – but at the Poona Golf Club, it looks more like “Swing Before Scrutiny.”
Punekar News demands a transparent probe and accountability for officers involved. Without it, every kilometre logged on an Army Safari for golf is another dent in the institution’s credibility.
Have you witnessed similar misuse of defence/government resources? Write to us at [email protected] or connect on social media. Because in Pune, accountability shouldn’t wait for permission.
