New Delhi: An Army Court of Inquiry into
allegations of sexual misconduct against former engineer-in-
chief Lt Gen AK Nanda has found that he "acted against
service decorum", but all allegations against him in the
complaint were "not conclusively established".
Defence Minister AK Antony told Rajya Sabha today that
"as per the inquiry report, the allegation against the Lt Gen
has not been conclusively established.
"However, it has been found that the General Officer
acted against service decorum," he said in a written reply.
Antony, however, did not explain what actions of Nanda
went against service decorum.
He said, "On the other hand the complainant (a Colonel)
had also tried to mislead the court (of inquiry)."
Therefore, Army Chief General VK Singh "has administered
reproof to both the officers under the regulations of the
Army," he added.
The wife of a Colonel, who was working as technical
secretary to Nanda, had complained that the General officer
had misbehaved with her during their official trip to Israel
earlier this year.
Following the complaint, the Army had constituted the
court of inquiry under the then Shimla-based Army Training
Command chief Lt Gen AS Lamba, who has since taken over as
the Army Vice Chief.
The Court of Inquiry has been completed and submitted to
the Army headquarters.
Antony also said no information was available with the
Defence Ministry on the Colonel and his wife making similar
sexual harassment allegations against any other senior Army
officer in the past.
On what action was taken against Army officers for making
false allegations, the Defence Minister said suitable
punishment in accordance with the provisions of the Army Act
and Army rules were meted out to them.
PTI
