Colonel dismissed for having affair with another officer’s wife

A General Court Martial (GCM) has dismissed a Colonel from service for allegedly having an “improper relationship” with the wife of another Colonel. The court held him guilty of three out of four charges levelled against him under various provisions of the Army Act.

The trial, which concluded in Chandigarh on October 29, was ordered by Headquarters, 8 Mountain Division on the basis of a complaint by the husband of the woman allegedly involved and a subsequent court of inquiry, and was presided over by Brigadier JS Gill from Headquarters, Uniform Force.

The GCM held him guilty under Section 45 of the Army Act behaving in a manner unbecoming his position and the character expected of him, wherein he stayed twice with the woman in different hotels in 2021 and 2022, and under Section 69 of the Army Act for committing a civil offence of fraudulently using the identity card of the woman.

The court, absolved him of one charge of making telephone calls to the woman at odd hours. The findings and sentence of the court martial are subject to confirmation by the convening authority.

The Army takes acts of moral impropriety such as having improper relationships, referred to as 'stealing the affections of a brother officer's wife,' seriously and has in the past initiated strict action against such delinquent officers.