M A I N   N E W S

Military court sacks Anjali
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, December 8
Flying Officer Anjali Gupta today became the first woman officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be ordered dismissed from service by a military court here.

Anjali has been found guilty of five charges, including misappropriation of funds, insubordination and failure to report for duty. The order was pronounced by Group Captain Ganesh who was presiding over a five-member jury.

The punishment is subject to confirmation by the Chief or Army Staff and till it is confirmed Anjali will continue to report for duty and register her attendance at the office to which she is at present attached.

The Flying Officer while talking to newsmen after the court order said she would challenge the manner in which the proceedings of the court martial had been conducted. According to law there is no scope to appeal against the verdict of the court. However the manner in which the proceedings have been held can be challenged. Anjali said 17 witnesses were not allowed to be cross questioned by the court.

Anjali said she would continue to seek justice and would approach the Karnataka High Court in relation with the sexual harassment complaint she has levelled against three IAF officers. She said the IAF had tried to whitewash the complaint by setting up a court of inquiry on April 28 this year which found no merit in her complaint. The IAF had however claimed that the court of inquiry included an officer of the rank of Air Vice Marshal along with four other officers including two women.

It had claimed that Anjali did not cooperate with the inquiry team which had subsequently found no merit in her complaint.

The dismissed Flying Officer was working at the Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment here in Bangalore during the course of which she had levelled charges of sexual harassment against IAF officials.