Army Moves to Dismiss Major Over Adultery Allegations; Tribunal Intervenes
New Delhi: The Indian Army has initiated administrative proceedings to terminate the service of a Major accused of engaging in extramarital affairs with the spouses of two fellow officers. Rather than opting for a traditional court-martial, the military leadership has invoked Army Rules 19 and 14, serving the officer a show-cause notice on August 10 to justify why he should not be removed from service. The notice explicitly states that the circumstances of the case render a formal trial by court-martial “inexpedient.”
The officer, however, has challenged this move, seeking intervention from the Principal Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) in New Delhi. In a hearing on October 14, a bench comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Lieutenant General CP Mohanty denied the Major’s request to halt the administrative process immediately. Instead, the tribunal directed the officer to submit his formal defense in response to the show-cause notice. Crucially, the bench mandated that the Army provide the officer with access to the Court of Inquiry findings and the records of the charge hearing—documents he had previously been denied.
Origins of the Complaint
The controversy traces back to August 2023, when the officer’s then-wife lodged a formal complaint with the Additional Directorate General of Discipline and Vigilance at Army Headquarters. Her allegations included professional misconduct, substance abuse, and neglect. Most damaging were the claims regarding extramarital relationships with four women, two of whom were identified as wives of fellow serving officers.
Following the complaint, Headquarters 55 (I) Mechanised Brigade launched a Court of Inquiry to investigate “conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.” Throughout the investigative phase, the Major has maintained a staunch defense, accusing the military authorities of violating Army Rule 180, which provides safeguards for personnel whose reputation is at stake during an inquiry. He specifically contended that the authorities failed to summon or question the women mentioned in the allegations, or their husbands, despite his repeated requests for such testimony.
Furthermore, the Major has alleged significant procedural lapses in the handling of the investigation, including the manner in which his personal electronic devices—such as mobile phones, a laptop, and pen drives—were seized, and the way his living quarters were searched.
Legal and Personal Complications
The Army’s shift toward administrative termination follows an earlier attempt to proceed with a tentative chargesheet drafted in March 2025 under Sections 45 and 63 of the Army Act.
Adding a layer of complexity to the case is the status of the initial complainant. The Major informed the tribunal that his marriage was legally dissolved on March 30, 2026, by a Judicial Magistrate in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. As part of their mutual divorce agreement, his former spouse withdrew the 2023 complaint. In the settlement, she stated that the allegations were filed during a period of marital distress and lacked factual basis, promising to convey this retraction to military authorities. The Major has argued that this withdrawal should fundamentally undermine the grounds for his dismissal.
Despite these developments, the administrative proceedings remain active. The AFT’s decision to allow the officer to respond to the show-cause notice while granting him access to key evidence sets the stage for a critical phase in the case. As it stands, no formal adjudication or court-martial has reached a verdict, leaving the allegations against the Major officially unproven.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
