A senior Navy officer, Captain Rahul Parmar was awarded the punishment of loss of three years seniority by a court martial after a junior officer under his command drowned during an exercise off the coast of Gujarat two years ago and his body was never recovered.
Sub lieutenant Vipin Kumar died during a sea swimming drill on December 29, 2011 while he was posted on warship INS Talwar commanded by Parmar.
He reportedly asked Kumar to jump from the ship into sea as part of survival course. Several ships and divers were pressed into service to rescue the officer when he did not surface but his body could not be found. Incidentally, Kumar was a top swimmer and won many medals.
Following the incident, Parmar was removed from the command of ship and not given any responsibility pending court of inquiry and subsequent court martial proceedings.
The court martial awarded him punishment of loss of three years of seniority, officials said on Friday.