'Whistleblower' navy sailor illegally detained?

Wife of a navy sailor belonging to the Eastern Naval Command, who had raised allegations of financial irregularities against his senior officers, has alleged that her husband was being illegally kept in a hospital in Kochi and efforts were being made to establish that he was suffering from mental illness.

Sunil Kumar Sahu, shipwright artificer at INS Kattabomman, Vijayanarayanam, in Tirunelveli, which comes under the Eastern Naval command, had allegedly raised allegations of corruption against his commanding officers.

Sahu's wife Aarti said he was locked up in a cell following this and brought to Kochi on Oct 23 from Kattabomman and admitted at the INS Sanjivini in Kochi for treatment.

She alleged that efforts were being made by the Navy to portray Sahu as a mental patient. He has been kept at the psychiatry ward, she said.

"I want my husband to be discharged from the hospital. He does not have any problem. I would like him to be shifted to a civil hospital if there is need. I do not have faith in the doctors at the naval hospital", she told PTI.

"There is no problem with my husband. He was forcibly brought to Kochi," Aarti, who is in Kochi with her two-year old son, said, adding, she was told that he would be kept on observation for 10 days.

Meanwhile, Defence spokesperson said Sahu was brought to Kochi from INS Kattabomman for "medical advice. That advice is being provided. No treatment was being given to him".

The sailor was sent to Kochi for medical assessment.

"He is only being assessed for any health requirement the doctor has asked", the spokesperson said.

Aarti, who is presently staying with her husband's friend, said she was asked to vacate the accommodation provided to the family at the naval base in Kochi on Friday.

The spokesperson said though she was not required to accompany him, she insisted on coming and we allowed her to stay for the night on humanitarian grounds.