SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh High Court has granted anticipatory bail to Wing Commander PK Sehrawat of Indian Air Force, who is facing allegations of rape and harassment from a female Flying Officer.
According to Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, a single bench of Justice Rajnesh Oswal ordered the release of Sehrawat on bail based on several factors, including his position as a serving Wing Commander in the Air Force and the potential impact of his arrest on his career.
The court also noted that a prima facie case for bail had been established at this stage.
However, the court imposed strict conditions on Sehrawat’s bail, including furnishing sureties, restrictions on travel, and a requirement to appear before the investigating officer on specified dates.
The court also directed the prosecution to continue its investigation and not file a charge sheet without its permission.
The allegations against Sehrawat, which date back to December 31, 2023. The victim has accused Sehrawat of sexual assault, harassment, and a subsequent cover-up by the authorities.
According to FIR, a copy of which in the possession of Srinagar based news agency Kashmir Dot Com, the complainant, a young female officer (name withheld), has accused Wing Commander PK Sehrawat of sexual assault and harassment. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of December 31, 2023, during a New Year’s party held at the Officers’ Mess. The officer alleges that Sehrawat sexually assaulted her in his room after asking her to collect a gift. Despite her repeated pleas to stop and attempts to resist, she was forced into a distressing situation.
In her complaint, the victim writes of a troubling series of events following the assault. The complainant claims that the investigation was mishandled, with significant delays and procedural lapses. Despite her efforts to report the incident, she faced considerable obstacles, including a lack of timely medical examination and biased treatment from the Internal Committee formed to investigate the case.
The complaint further alleges that instead of receiving support, she encountered continuous harassment, including unwarranted monitoring of her personal communications and social interactions. She claims that this ongoing harassment has led to severe psychological distress and has significantly impacted her mental health.,
An FIR, number 370/2024, was registered against the Wing Commander on September 8th following the female Flying Officer’s complaint. (KDC)
