M A I N   N E W S

Anjali loses sexual harassment case also
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service

Bangalore, December 9
In a double blow a day after she was ordered dismissed from service, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Court of Inquiry today ruled that Flying Officer Anjali Gupta had failed to prove her complaint of sexual harassment against three fellow officers.

The three-member Court of Inquiry headed by Air Marshal Bandhopadhya ruled that Anjali had failed to prove her complaint despite being given adequate opportunity. An IAF legal spokesman while briefing the media on the conclusions of the enquiry today said Anjali had failed to make out any case.

The Inquiry report has recommended that no action needs to be taken against Wing Commander V C Cyriac, Commodore A Chopra and Squardon Leader R S Choudhary against whom charges of sexual harassment had been levelled by Anjali. IAF's Legal Officer, Wing Commander P C Prakash, however refused to comment on the status of the complaint lodged by the Flying Officer against the same officers in the local Vimapura Police Station. "The police will have to give an update on the complaint", he said.

Sources however said the cashiered Flying Officer seems to have little avenues left with the Bangalore police already having asked her earlier to sort out the matter with her superiors. Her case is however pending in the Karnataka High Court as well as the Karnataka State Women's Commission. Talking to newsmen on the issue she said she was aggrieved by the verdict and would be appealing against it to the Convening authority. She went on to say she would fight the case "till the end" adding she would be filing a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court after exhausting even the Convening authority.