Provide petition copy to victim by Aug 30: HC to accused Lt Col

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 17 

The Jammu &Kashmir  High Court on Wednesday directed a Lieutenant Colonel, accused of molesting a Mumbai woman inside an Army garrison in Kashmir last year, to provide the copy of the petition challenging the trial of the case before a civil court to the victim.

These directions were issued on Wednesday by the HC, which is hearing 

a petition by the accused Army officer seeking quashing of the FIR and court proceedings against him.

During the previous hearing on May 29, the HC while granting an interim stay over the proceedings pending before the Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ganderbal, into the case had also sought objections from the police as well as the complainant. 

In her complaint to the police, the Mumbai woman claimed that she along with her husband stayed at the Manasbal garrison guest house, Ganderbal, as guests of Lt Col Manohar Nagraj from January 1-4, 2018. On January 2 night, Lt Col Nagraj allegedly molested her at a get-together held at the officers’ mess of 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles. The details were conveyed to the acting Colonel and a written complaint filed.

As the matter came up before a bench of Justice Rajesh Bindal on Wednesday, advocate Rajdeep Lahiri representing the complainant submitted that they had not been served the notice as well as the copy of the petition to date.

The accused Army officer, who was also present inside the court in civvies on Wednesday, was represented by his counsel Vaibhav Raina, while the prosecution was represented by senior counsel BA Dar.

After hearing all sides, the court directed the counsel representing the accused to provide a copy of the petition to the other side by or before the 

next date of hearing fixed on August 30.

The J&K Police, which investigated the case, have already filed a chargesheet against the Army officer, stating that the circumstances and evidences collected establish the allegations against him. 

2018 molestation case 

In a complaint to the police, a Mumbai woman claimed that she, along with her husband, stayed at the Manasbal 

garrison guest house, Ganderbal, as guests of the Lt Col from January 1-4, 2018. On the night of January 2, Lt Col Nagraj allegedly molested her at a 

get-together held at the officers’ mess of 3 sector Rashtriya Rifles. The details were conveyed to the acting Colonel and a written complaint filed