IAF show-cause to Wing Commander accused of rape

NEW DELHI: The IAF has served a show-cause notice to a Wing Commander , a fighter pilot accused of raping a civilian intern in New Delhi as well as violating security protocols at the Ambala airbase where he is posted, to explain why he should not be dismissed from service. The notice was issued on Thursday to the Wing Commander (40), who was accused of rape and criminal intimidation by a former civilian intern (25) of the Institute of Aerospace Safety at Palam, an officer said.

An IAF spokesperson, however, refused to comment since it was "a sub-judice matter". The accused has filed a petition in the Delhi HC seeking a stay on the two inquiries. The next hearing is on Nov 5. The Delhi Police had registered a FIR after the intern's complaint in Dec last year alleging the officer raped her in a hotel in Connaught Place. After he apologised and promised to marry her, they were in a live-in relationship. But the intern later learnt he was married with two kids.

The other inquiry against the wing commander relates to violating security protocols by allegedly facilitating unauthorised access to the Ambala airbase’s technical area, using smartphones in restricted areas and circulating photos of aircraft.