The army has instituted a court of inquiry (CoI) into the allegations of by major’s wife of misbehaviour by a brigade commander when she refused to take part in a fashion show rehearsal organised by the Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA).
Vidhya A Karajagi, wife of Major Annappa C Karajagi, alleged that on July 8, Brigadier Sanjiv Yadav, commander, 16 Artillery Brigade, insulted and threatened her over the issue at Faridkot military station. The fashion show practice was in anticipation of a visit by wives of senior officers, and the army authorities wanted to have a programme ready. The complaint, dated July 28, has been filed before the army commander, South-Western Command, Lt Gen AK Sahni.
Brigadier AK Verma of 16 Infantry Division has been asked to conduct the inquiry. Sources informed that he has recorded the statement of Vidhya and her husband in which they have stood by the allegations. The statement of Brigadier Yadav is yet to be recorded.
During the July 8 meeting, as alleged, Vidhya told Brigadier Yadav that the fashion show was not a family welfare-oriented programme and her husband told her not to go there as she had to leave the kids unattended for 2-3 hours. She alleged that Brigadier Yadav “crossed the line” when he said to her husband and her: “Anybody who is under my command, [if] he questions the organisation, the very foundation of the organisation, [it] is not acceptable...”
{{/usCountry}}During the July 8 meeting, as alleged, Vidhya told Brigadier Yadav that the fashion show was not a family welfare-oriented programme and her husband told her not to go there as she had to leave the kids unattended for 2-3 hours. She alleged that Brigadier Yadav “crossed the line” when he said to her husband and her: “Anybody who is under my command, [if] he questions the organisation, the very foundation of the organisation, [it] is not acceptable...”
{{/usCountry}}She claimed that he further said, “Till the time you don’t cross the boundaries, it’s fine with me...” And he also said, allegedly, “Fine, Mrs Annappa, I had to speak today because if I don’t nip it in the bud, this malaise will continue.”