Mumbai: For Anuradha Paldhe, September 21 is the not only 24th death anniversary of her son Amar Ashok Paldhe, a clearance diver with the Eastern Naval Command, but also another year into her fight to solve the mystery behind the mysterious death.
Ironically, more than a year after the Hyderabad High Court directed the Indian Navy to set up a fresh board of inquiry into Amar’s unnatural death during peace-time operation, no action has been taken yet.
“The Navy is delaying the process with new excuses before the court. As a mother, I am seeking the truth. I want to know the reason behind my son’s death. Am I not entitled to know that? Why is it being delayed by the Navy?” Ms. Paldhe, a resident of Dombivli, told The Hindu .
Amar was with the Eastern Naval Command Clearance Diving Scheme in 1993. During an exercise along the Kakinada coast on September 21, 1993, he jumped from a helicopter into the sea. He did not, however, reach the shore. His body was found two days later.
The post-mortem found no cause of death. A diatom test was ordered, but it was not conducted for a year. The Board of Inquiry, whose term ended even before the test was conducted, suggested in its report that it was an accident. But two ante-mortem injuries were left unexplained.
Sensing a foul play, the Paladhes approached the court. After 20 years, the High Court in April 2013 had said that the death had occurred in suspicious and mysterious circumstances. Following this, the family expected the Indian Navy to investigate the matter again.
But, with no sign of a re-investigation, she filed a writ petition in the same court in April 2014, seeking a directive to inquire into the death. “… the writ petition is disposed of directing the respondent, Naval authorities, to constitute a fresh Board of Inquiry. Such an exercise may be completed within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The findings should be communicated to the petitioner who is the mother of deceased sailor Amar Ashok Paldhe,” the court said in its June 7, 2016, order.
Instead of setting up an inquiry, Ms. Paldhe’s lawyer Sunil Ganu said, the Navy filed an appeal and has been delaying the process for the last one year. “The court should give priority by looking at the case sensitively.” The Navy in its appeal has questioned whether an inquiry would achieve anything after 24 years. It is also arguing to hand over the responsibility to the police. “The armed forces are governed by special Acts, and inquiry must be conducted under these Acts. No third party should be allowed,” said Mr. Ganu.
Ms. Paldhe said she is determined to continue her fight till she finds the truth. “That is my goal. I want to bring justice to my son.”
