The Navy has instituted a board of inquiry (BOI) and sent a Commander-rank officer on forced leave following allegations of molesting a junior officer. The incident took place earlier this month in the Capital and the BOI is expected to submit its report soon. The Navy said it has a zero tolerance policy for such issues and appropriate action will be taken once the probe is complete.
The incident involved two doctors and took place at the residence of a Vice Admiral when the duo had gone there to attend to an ailing and old relative of the Admiral. He was away to Visakhapatnam on official duty at the time of the incident, sources said on Wednesday.
In her complaint, the junior woman officer of the rank of Surgeon lieutenant alleged that her senior Surgen Commander (equivalent to lt Colonel) molested her twice, including the incident at the Vice Admiral’s house.
The woman officer alleged that the first incident at the Rear Admiral’s house took place when she sought to use the washroom after examining the Admiral’s 95-year-old mother, who is bed-ridden, sources said.
She immediately informed her seniors about the alleged misdemeanour by the Surgeon Commander but no action was taken. The senior officer then tried to misbehave with her again at INS India, the medical centre of the Navy and the lady officer then approached the higher authorities on May 6, they said.
Incidentally, the Surgeon Commander was awarded Vishist Sewa Medal (VSM) this year.
Denying allegation that there was delay in taking up the issue seriously, the Navy said a BOI was ordered on May 9 as the intervening two days happended to be weekend, officials said.
Navy spokesman Captain DK Sharma said, “We are seized of the matter and a Board of Inquiry has been ordered into the incident which is likely to submit its report soon. Navy has a zero tolerance policy for such issues. Appropriate action will be taken once the enquiry is completed and the report is submitted.”
This incident took place at a time when allegations of wife swapping in the Navy and wife of one officer approaching the apex court earlier this month. The court asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala to probe the matter as the alleged incident took place in Kochi.