Anjali Gupta – first female officer in Indian Air Force to be court martialled

Anjali Gupta – Indian air force officer

She served in air force from 2001 to 2006. She was the first female officer in India & in Air Force to be court martialled. Anjali Gupta was working at the aircraft systems & testing establishment in Bangalore.

Early life and education:

She was born on 12^th May 1970 in Delhi. Her mother, Uma Gupta was a schoolteacher and father was a bank officer. She was second among three sisters.

She completed her graduation & post-graduation & M.Phil. in Psychology from Delhi University.

She joined IAF through Short Service Commission officer in the education branch. In 2001, she was posted at Belgaum, Karnataka.

Allegations of harassment:

Gupta filed a case against three of her superiors at a police station in Bangalore in February 2005. She was asked to resolve the issue by the police.

Later she approached Karnataka high court, demanding an enquiry by the CBI. A few days later, she alleged in a TV interview that she was a victim of sexual harassment at the workplace. General Court Martial proceedings against Gupta were initiated.

Trial and dismissal:

She was under house arrest, as she made a statement before the Karnataka State Commission for women that she is on the verge of taking her life” because of alleged harassment by her superiors.

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IAF examined her by a panel of psychiatrists comprising doctors from National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences and Institute of Aerospace Medicine. Later she was admitted to Command Hospital.

In 2005, she was dismissed from service after a five-member GCM jury convicted her of misappropriating funds, insubordination and failure to report for duty.

Death:

She was found hanging at a relative’s home in Bhopal on 11^th September 2011. Police for questioning over her alleged suicide detained her former colleague Group Captain Amit Gupta.

Her parents informed media that Amit Gupta and Anjali were in relationship and living together.