Coimbatore: The Additional Mahila Court in Coimbatore has handed over the woman IAF rape case by a Flight Lieutenant to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for court martial proceedings.
Additional Mahila Court in-charge Judge N Thilageswari, in-charge directed that the case should be transferred from the Coimbatore City Police to the IAF as per the provisions of the Air Force Act, 1950.
Since both the accused and the victims were in active service under the IAF and the alleged incident occurred within the premises of the Air Force Administrative College (AFAC) in Coimbatore, the judge observed that only the IAF could carry out further legal proceedings in this case.
Earlier, the accused, Flight Lieutenant Amitesh Harmukh (29), who was arrested on Sunday last following a complaint from the woman IAF officer, was produced before the court, when the Judge ordered handing over the case to IAF.
According to police, the incident occurred in the early hours of 10 September on the AFAC, Coimbatore campus, where both had arrived for a training programme.
The woman officer, in an FIR registered on 20 September, alleged that the Flight Lieutenant had trespassed into her room and raped her under the influence of alcohol on 10 September. She also alleged that her Commandant and senior officers pressured her to withdraw her complaint, and that she was subjected to the banned two-finger test at the Air Force Hospital.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women condemned the IAF for conducting the banned two-finger on the woman officer.
It was ‘utterly disappointed and strongly condemned the action of IAF doctors conducting the banned test on the victim.’
In her letter, NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma urged the IAF Chief to ‘take necessary action’ and ensure that its medical fraternity is aware of ‘prevailing guidelines laid down by the government.’