Seven Navy personnel have been found guilty by a Board of Inquiry (BOI) in the case of a fire onboard Navy submarine INS Sindhuratna in February this year, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Tuesday.
In a written reply given to the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Parrikar stated that, “The inquiry has found seven officers culpable of various acts of omissions and commissions.”
INS Sindhuratna, commissioned in 1988, was at sea undergoing inspection after a refit when the fire occurred resulting in loss of life of two officers. Then Navy Chief Admiral D.K. Joshi resigned following the incident, taking “moral responsibility” for the spate of accidents involving naval assets.
Disciplinary action against these officers has been initiated at the Western Naval Command Headquarters and the BOI report has been submitted to the Naval Headquarters.
As per procedure, show cause notices will now be issued to the officers for their response.
On another Board of Inquiry looking into the August 14, 2013 accident on submarine INS Sindhurakshak, Mr. Parrikar said the BOI has not yet been completed. The submarine was berthed at naval dockyard in Mumbai when an explosion onboard had sunk it, killing 18 Navy personnel.
