Court hands over rape case to IAF

Since both the accused, survivor are in active service, only IAF can carry out legal proceedings: judge

The Additional Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Thursday handed over to the Indian Air Force the case of rape made against a Flight Lieutenant by his woman colleague for court-martial proceedings.

Sources said N. Thilageswari, in-charge of the Additional Mahila Court, ordered that the case must be transferred from the Coimbatore City Police to the IAF as per provisions of the Air Force Act, 1950. Since both the accused and the survivor were in active service under the IAF and the alleged incident occurred within the premises of the Air Force Administrative College (AFAC) in Coimbatore, the judge observed that only the IAF could carry out further legal proceedings in this case.

Earlier, the accused, Flight Lieutenant Amitesh Harmukh (29), was produced in the court. The All Women Police, Coimbatore Central, arrested him on September 25 based on a complaint of the 28-year-old woman IAF officer and he was remanded in judicial custody for four days.