A deputy military attache posted at the Indian embassy in Afghanistan has been prima facie found guilty of illegally carrying a weapon, according to an army investigation. The colonel was caught at the Kabul airport last year with a gun.
The officer was sent back to New Delhi, soon after he was caught in April 2017. Though the preliminary enquiry by the Indian embassy in Kabul had claimed that the officer had “inadvertently” kept his service revolver that he kept for his protection in the hand baggage when he was traveling back to his home town for vacation.
The colonel was repatriated and attached with the Army headquarters. A Court of Inquiry was initiated against him.
“The Court of Inquiry has established him guilty and disciplinary and vigilance ban of the 'D' category is imposed on him by the authorities," sources close to the development said. D category will lead to disciplinary action against the officer during which he can face a trial by General Court Martial. The disciplinary and vigilance action was initiated against the colonel on the basis of recommendation of the Court of Inquiry conducted by the Delhi area.
Sources said the officer was caught during baggage screening at the departure terminal of the Kabul airport. Airport security took him to the custody for further questioning. But when the officer revealed his identity, he was let off by the security staff.
A Joint Secretary rank officer in the MEA had conducted an enquiry during which the officer failed to prove how and from where he sourced the weapon from. Subsequently, the Ministry of External Affairs sent a letter to the defence ministry asking it to call back the colonel and carry out an enquiry into the matter.