Woman officer placed under arrest by Army court martial

For the first time in Army's history, a woman officer was placed under arrest by a court martial in which she had appeared as a witness on charges of contempt of court.

For the first time in Army's history, a woman officer was placed under arrest by a court martial in which she had appeared as a witness on charges of contempt of court.

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The unprecedented action by an Army court took place at Panagarh in West Bengal under the Eastern Army Command, where Major Rajshri was placed under arrest after she and the court reportedly had a verbal duel, defence sources said on Wednesday.

Rajshri, who is at present serving as Assistant Advocate General (Legal) in the Army's Bengal Area headquarters in Kolkata, was recently appearing as a witness before the court martial, which was trying a Lt Colonel posted at the military hospital for allegedly indulging in private practice and for misusing the military infrastructure.

Lt Col Virender Mohan, Additional Judge Advocate General of the Eastern Command headquarters was the Judge Advocate of the Court Martial, the sources added.

During her deposition before the court martial, there was some heated exchanges between her and the court. "Taking it as Contempt of Court, an offence punishable under Army Act, the Court Martial placed her under arrest," they said.

Following the incident, the court martial proceedings were adjourned sine die. The woman officer also chose to lodge a complaint to the Army top brass with regard to her "illegal confinement with an escort officer keeping guard", they said.

She was later released on instructions from the Bengal Area Commander, they added.