A General Court Martial (GCM) of the Army has sacked Captain Poonam Kaur of the Army Service Corps (ASC) for levelling false allegations of sexual harassment against her seniors.

The GCM at 5-Armoured Regiment in Patiala, held Capt Kaur guilty on various counts, including levelling false allegations of physical and mental harassment against senior Army officers, disobeying orders of her Commanding Officer (CO), providing false information to get accommodation meant for married personnel in Kalka, and discussing service matters with the media, which is against Army rules.

Last year, Capt Kaur had charged her seniors — including her Commanding Officer and two other senior officers — of physical and mental harassment ever since she was posted in Kalka in October 2007.

Following her allegations, the Army had set up a Court of Inquiry in July last year, which found her guilty on at least 20 counts. Later, the Army set up a GCM, in Patiala, as Capt Kaur was attached with the 5 Armoured Regiment in Patiala.

The GCM, headed by an officer of the rank of Col, concluded on Friday and found Capt Kaur guilty and awarded the punishment of dismissal from service.

She was, however, acquitted of the charge of “unbecoming conduct and character” with regard to having physical relations with her driver, Sepoy Sunil Kumar, who was attached with her when she was posted in Kalka.

In her complaint, Capt Kaur had alleged that her Commanding Officer Colonel R K Sharma and Lt Col Ajay Chawla and Major Suraj Bhan had physically and mentally harassed her after she turned down their physical advances.

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