Flight lieutenant held in Kovai for rape of colleague

The accused, identified by the police as Amirtesh, 29, has been booked under IPC Section 376 for rape and was remanded in judicial custody on Saturday night. He was lodged at Udumalpet sub jail in Tirupur district. The victim officer had reportedly raised the issue of sexual assault with authorities at Air Force Administrative College premises, but no action was taken.

Police said she had suffered an injury in one of her legs while undergoing sports training in the campus on September 10. She then went to sleep in her room after taking medication. In the middle of the night, she woke up to find herself undressed and was sexually assaulted by Lieutenant Officer Amirtesh from Chhattisgarh. More than 30 personnel from across India are undergoing training in the college over the last one month. Based on a complaint to Coimbatore City Commissioner Deepak M Damor, the All Women’s Police Station in Gandhipuram registered a case and arrested the accused officer. Amirtesh’s lawyer submitted in court that police do not have the authority to take action against an Air Force officer and that the trial should only be held in a Defence court. Police have sought time to file a counter affidavit.