India Air Force wing commander granted pre-arrest bail in rape case filed by female officer

A High Court in Indian-illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has granted pre-arrest bail to an Indian Air Force Wing Commander facing rape allegations.

The court's decision was influenced by concerns that an arrest could significantly impact the Wing Commander’s reputation and career.

Initially, a FIR, registered at Budgam police station, follows a complaint by a 26-year-old female IAF officer accusing the Wing Commander of rape.

According to the complaint, during a New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2023, the Wing Commander invited the officer to his room under the pretext of collecting a gift.

Once inside, she alleged that he sexually assaulted and molested her.

She said she repeatedly resisted before managing to escape.

The officer claimed that after the incident, the Wing Commander visited her office and acted as though nothing had happened.

She reported feeling intimidated and unsure about reporting the assault due to prior discouragement.

The woman officer also alleged that the internal inquiry into the incident was mishandled

Although a Colonel was assigned to investigate, the accused Wing Commander was present during the process, which made her uncomfortable.

She also claimed that a medical examination was delayed, even though she requested it multiple times.

The court has allowed the investigation to proceed but ordered that no chargesheet be filed without its explicit permission.

The Wing Commander is required to meet with the investigating officer from September 14 to 16 and must seek permission from his Commanding Officer before leaving Jammu and Kashmir.

He is also prohibited from contacting any prosecution witnesses.

The Air Force has stated its full cooperation with the investigation.

Discussions on rape and sexual violence gained significant attention in India following the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a Delhi bus, which sparked widespread protests and led to amendments in the country's rape laws.

Despite these changes, tens of thousands of rapes are reported annually, and activists argue that substantial progress is still needed to address the problem effectively.

The recent rape and murder of a doctor in Kokata has once again highlighted the issue on a global front.