By Ashraf Padanna/Kochi
Defence Minister A K Antony has promised strict action against navy officers if the torture and molestation allegations raised by the estranged wife of a young officer were found true.
The scandal at the Kochi-headquartered Southern Naval Command headed by Vice Admiral Satish Soni has dealt a blow to India’s defence establishment, already facing corruption charges.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the online processing of retired defence employees’medical bills at the SNC headquarters here yesterday, Antony said the navy and the police were probing the charges separately.
“The government and the navy are of the firm opinion that no culprit should be spared if the allegations are true. The defence ministry treats this kind of incidents seriously and we have recently taken action against an officer,” he said.
Antony on Friday ordered the dismissal of a lieutenant commander after he was found guilty of having illicit relations with the wife of his superior. The action was taken on the basis of an inquiry report submitted by the Naval Headquarters that confirmed “stealing the affections of a brother officer’s wife.”
However, the navy told the defence ministry that “no merit was found in the allegations” by the marine commando’s wife about torture and sexual harassment. Police in Kochi and Delhi have registered separate cases based on her complaints.
