Dismissal of IAF officer recommended for outraging junior's modesty

A court martial has recommended dismissal of a senior IAF officer after finding him guilty of "outraging the modesty" of junior female colleague. 

Wing Commander HS Virk, posted in Agra, was tried by the general court martial (GCM) in Bareilly last month after a lady officer alleged that he was passing objectionable comments on her.

The GCM, headed by Group Captain P Kumar, found him guilty and recommended his dismissal.

While a confirmation of the sentence by the air officer commanding-in-chief of Allahabad-based Central Command is
awaited, Virk has approached the Armed Forces Tribunal,
contending that he was being kept in "illegal detention" by
the air force.

Appearing before the tribunal on Virk's behalf, his counsel Rajiv Manglik said the GCM had recommended the Wing Commander's dismissal but the IAF had kept him in confinement even though there was no sentence of imprisonment. 

Arguing against the plea, the IAF said Virk could not be released as the sentence recommended by the GCM was yet to be confirmed by the higher authorities.

Hearing both sides, the tribunal directed the IAF to release the officer on bail and to send him on leave for two weeks.