The Arrests Begin: May 1961 and the First Wave of Detentions
Barely a week after assuming office, Amini authorized the arrest of several prominent military figures accused of financial misconduct. On May 13, 1961, newspapers reported that a number of generals had been detained on charges of embezzlement and abuse of office. Among those arrested were:
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Lieutenant General Mahdiqoli Alavi-Moghaddam, former head of the city police
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Lieutenant General Ali Kia, former head of the Second Army Directorate
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Major General Ali Akbar Zargham, former Minister of Finance, Monopolies, and Customs
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Brigadier General Farajollah Novi, former head of the Northern Fisheries Department
Two days later, on May 15, another prominent figure—Brigadier General Ajodani, former CEO of Tehran Electricity—was also taken into custody. These arrests sent shockwaves through the military establishment and raised fears of a broader purge.
For the first time in years, members of the armed forces, traditionally seen as untouchable, were being subjected to judicial scrutiny. Ettelaat and Kayhan published sensational headlines detailing the government’s determination to pursue corruption “without regard to rank or influence.” Behind the scenes, however, the Shah was deeply uneasy. The arrests threatened to alienate powerful allies within the military. Seeking to avoid association with the unfolding scandal, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi departed for Norway, effectively distancing himself from Amini’s campaign and the growing unrest within the armed forces.
