Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Tuesday rejected reports that an illegal two-finger test was conducted on a woman IAF officer to confirm rape after she accused a male colleague, a flight lieutenant, of the crime in Coimbatore.
“Let me assure you that the IAF is very strict when it comes to such incidents. We have no latitude for any misconduct or moral turpitude cases. The two-finger test (on the woman officer) is misreported. In actual fact this has not been done,” the IAF chief said in response to a question on the Coimbatore rape case.
IAF law is very strict on any such incident. The two-finger test conducted on a woman officer is misreported. No two-finger test was not done. We're well aware of the rules and all due action would be taken: IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Coimbatore alleged rape case pic.twitter.com/PCA1yKJwso
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2021
Chaudhari’s comments came during the chief’s customary media interaction ahead of the 89th anniversary of IAF on October 8. He said action will be taken in the case according to law.
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“We are well aware of the rules. And all disciplinary action that will come out from this inquiry (into the case) will be taken,” the IAF chief said. He took over as IAF chief on September 30 following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.
According to the first information report (FIR) filed by the Tamil Nadu Police on September 20, seen by HT, the 28-year-old woman officer said she was raped on campus at the Air Force Administrative College in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district.
In the FIR, the woman officer accused IAF of subjecting her to an illegal two-finger test to confirm rape, of adopting a hostile attitude towards her during the inquiry, and of tampering with the evidence.
The allegations have come at a time when women are being given more opportunities in the armed forces to realise their full potential.
