Lt Gen Nanda’s ‘misconduct’: Army court summons defence attaché

The court of inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct by lieutenant leneral AK Nanda, the army’s engineer-in-chief, has taken a new turn, with the authorities deciding to summon Group Captain Ajay Rathore, defence attaché in the Indian embassy in Israel, as a witness.

Shimla-based Army Research and Training Command (Artrac) initiated the inquiry on June 17 after Colonel CP Pasricha, Nanda’s technical secretary, accused the engineer-in-chief of making sexual advances towards his wife in a hotel in Israel on May 12 while on an official visit.

Rathore, a Sukhoi pilot in the air force, is likely to depose when the inquiry resumes after a short break. He will report to Artrac.
Both Pasricha and Nanda have claimed Rathore was almost always in attendance when they carried out their business in Israel.

Meanwhile, sources said Pasricha’s charges were being closely examined by the court of inquiry presided over by Lieutenant General AS Lamba, general officer commanding-in-chief, and why he had not been able to prove any so far. They said the inquiry would be completed within a month since Nanda was retiring in October.

Sources said army chief General VK Singh’s wife Bharti, who is president of the Army Wives Welfare Association, met wives of both officers after Pasricha lodged the complaint. Later, Nanda was summoned by Singh.