Amid a raging controversy over ‘wife swapping’ charges in the Navy’s Southern Command in Kochi, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday ordered the dismissal of a naval officer after he was found guilty of having illicit relations with the wife of his superior.
The dismissal of a Lieutenant Commander (equivalent to a Major) was approved by Mr. Antony on the basis of an inquiry report submitted by the Naval Headquarters, defence sources told reporters. The officer was found guilty of “stealing the affection of a brother-officer’s wife,” a punishable offence in the armed forces.
Already the Navy is dealing with a police complaint by the wife of a Lieutenant in Kochi accusing his seniors and colleagues of sexual harassment. The woman also made ‘wife swapping’ charges.
The Navy has sent a report to the Defence Ministry denying the charges of sexual harassment in an FIR filed in Kochi. It said the Southern Naval Command had investigated the charges at its level and found that they were wrong
Taking a serious view of the allegations, Mr. Antony had ordered the Navy to submit a report in this regard.