JK High Court granted bail to Air Force Wing Commander, woman officer had accused him of sexual harassment

In the case of sexual harassment allegations leveled by a female flying officer of the Indian Air Force, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted bail to the accused wing commander in the event of arrest. The court has also ordered the prosecution not to file a chargesheet without permission. The court has also set conditions for the bail of the accused.

These include that the accused will have to furnish two sureties of Rs 50,000 each, will not go out of Jammu and Kashmir without the permission of the commanding officer, will appear before the IO between 10 am and 2 pm from September 14 to September 16. Legal experts have raised questions on the bail. They say that this is a rare order because there is no bail in cases under Section 376.

Let us tell you that the female flying officer had accused the Wing Commander of rape, mental harassment and stalking. The Air Force has ordered an internal investigation into the allegations. This incident took place at an Air Force station in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Police has registered an FIR against the Wing Commander of the Air Force station on the complaint of the female flying officer. This case has been registered at Budgam Police Station under Section 376 (2) of the Indian Penal Code. This section is for those who hold a high position.

The woman officer has accused the Wing Commander of sexual harassment and mental harassment in her complaint to the police. The victim said that the incident allegedly took place on the night of December 31, 2023 during a New Year party organised at the Officers’ Mess, when the officer sexually assaulted her in his room.