An Indian Army court martial has recommended severe punishment for seven soldiers for illegally selling life-saving medicines from the Army Research and Referral Hospital in Delhi in the open market, sources in the defence ministry said on Saturday.

The army headquarters had ordered a probe into the racket in 2017.

“Seven troops have been found guilty in the case and they have been given punishments ranging from dismissal from service to jail terms varying from two years to six years,” a ministry official said.

Sources said the racket had operated with the help of some private medicine suppliers.

“The inquiry had revealed that life-saving drugs worth several lakhs ordered by the Army Research and Referral Hospital were sold in the open market in December 2017,” the official said.