Major Leetul Gogoi to Face Court Martial as Court of Inquiry Holds Him Accountable
The Army has ordered a disciplinary action against Gogoi. The court of inquiry has held him accountable for fraternising with a local inspite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in operational area.
New Delhi, August 27: Major Leetul Gogoi, who was detained by police in a Srinagar hotel after he was seen with a local woman in May, will face a Court-martial after he was found guilty in the Court of Inquiry. The Army has ordered a disciplinary action against Gogoi. The court of inquiry has held him accountable for fraternising with a local in spite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in an operational area.
A Court of Inquiry is a fact-finding inquiry conducted as per Army regulations into any incident of indiscipline or controversial behaviour. The Army can then decide to go forward with the disciplinary proceedings based on the findings.
Gogoi was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police from a hotel with a woman on May 23 where he was allegedly trying to enter with an 18-year-old woman. He was allegedly involved in a brawl with the woman at the hotel. According to a report by IANS, heated verbal exchanges had taken place between the hotel management and Gogoi when the hotel manager told him they do not give rooms to locals and the army officer could not rent the room if he wanted to stay there with a local girl. Gogoi told the police he had come for a "source meeting", the official claimed.
Days later, the Army had ordered the Court of Inquiry into the incident after Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said in Pahalgam that exemplary punishment would be given to Gogoi if he was found guilty of "any offence". Rawat had in May informed that a Court of Inquiry was ordered (into the Major Gogoi incident) and appropriate action will be taken after the inquiry is finalised. "If Major Gogoi has done something wrong, I assure you that he will be awarded punishment at the earliest...the punishment will set an example," the army chief said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 27, 2018 12:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).