Anjali Gupta changing lawyers frequently: Air Chief

The court martial proceedings of flying Officer Anjali Gupta has been delayed due to defence lawyers being frequently changed, Air Chief S P Tyagi said in Srinagar on Friday.

The court martial proceedings of Gupta had been in progress and 11 of the 13 prosecution witnesses had been examined by the court, Tyagi told reporters.

There had been frequent adjournments as the Flying Officer had changed her defence lawyers several times, he said.

On allegations of sexual harassment levelled by Gupta, Tyagi said an inquiry conducted by the civil police found nothing in them.

"We have also ordered an inquiry into the matter. But it has been put off for the time being on the request of the flying officer," he said.

Also read: IAF takes woman officer into custody

The air Chief said Gupta had expressed her inability to attend court martial and inquiry proceedings at the same time."The inquiry into the alegations of sexual harassment will begin after the court martial," he said.

Tyagi said although the court martial was a routine in the airforce, the incident was getting wider media attention as the flying officer was a woman.

"We have around 800 female Flying Officers working in far off places like the northeast, flying planes and working on helipads. But the concerned officer has made allegations which would be looked into," the air chief said.

Tyagi also said the allegations were a setback to the image of the Indian Air Force.