Major General A.K.Lal, the commanding officer of an Infantry Division of Indian Army was dismissed from service by an army court that found him guilty of molesting a woman officer under his command, in first such case in the history of Indian Armed Forces.
The court martial held in Bhatinda (Punjab) was presided by Army’s 10-Corps Commander Lt. General R.S.Sujalana that handed down its verdict after hearing the accused officer and two other army officers who were witness in the case.
Major General A.K.Lal, a two star Army Officer, was serving as the General Officer Commanding 3-Infantry Division posted in Leh (Kashmir) last year, when the woman officer Captain Neha Rawat, in a written complaint against the general, alleged sexual misconduct under the pretext of conducting meditation classes at his residence.
The general court martial tried Lal on four counts of offences including molestation under section 354 of Indian Penal Code, along with section 69 (civil offence) of Army Act. He was also charged for attempting to influence two other officers who were witness in the case.
The court found him guilty on all four counts and dismissed him from the Indian Military Service a few days ago.
Lal will lose his pensions and ex-serviceman benefit if the Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor, confirms the verdict.
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