Orders issued to initiate disciplinary action against Major Gogoi

NEW DELHI: Major Leetul Gogoi, who was detained by police in a Srinagar hotel after he was seen with a local woman in May will now reportedly face court martial according to army sources.

He has been held accountable by a Court of Inquiry for fraternising with a local in spite of instructions to the contrary and being away from the place of duty while in an operational area.

Although Gogoi is likely to face a court martial, the competent authority would decide the next course of action following the “summary of evidence”, sources added.

ET had earlier reported on August 4 that he had violated the Army's rule against developing relationship with a local woman in a conflict zone and breaching the standard operating procedure of staying away from place of duty.

On May 23, Gogoi was detained by police following an altercation at the hotel in Srinagar where he was allegedly trying to enter with an 18-year-old woman.

Days later, the Army had ordered the CoI into the incident after Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said in Pahalgam that exemplary punishment would be given to Gogoi if he was found guilty of "any offence".

"If any officer of the Indian Army is found guilty of any offence, we will take strictest possible action," Gen. Rawat had said.

Major Gogoi had hit the headlines last year after he tied a man to a jeep in Kashmir purportedly as a shield against stone pelters during polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-election on April 9.

Gen Rawat had at that time supported the young officer's action and honoured him with the Army chief's 'Commendation Card' for his 'sustained efforts' in counter-insurgency operations.