Relief for Navy officer as AFT stays court martial sentence

But his conviction was recently stayed by the AFT based on his plea challenging the Court Martial ruling.

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While admitting the petition, the Delhi bench of the AFT stated that the “sentence of the petitioner is stayed. The petitioner be released on bail subject to furnishing of a bail bond in the sum of Rs 30,000.”

After Commander Rajesh Kumar, Birajdar was the second officer to be convicted in the case.

Kumar, who was convicted by the Court Martial in 2013, has also challenged his conviction before the AFT. The proceedings of the Court of Inquiry, which was carried out prior to the Court Martial, were also challenged by Kumar in the Supreme Court.

The Navy’s sky-diving team — which consisted of three sailors and three officers — had traveled to France to participate in the 18th World Parachuting Championship between May 21, 2008 to July 11, 2008. The team, however, had failed to participate in the event.

The chargesheets against Kumar and Birajdar blamed the failure on part of the two officers in taking prior approval from Aero Club of India as the reason behind the Indian team not being allowed to participate.

However, according to the accused, the team could not participate in the competition after a “sailor allegedly misbehaved with one of the staffers of the hotel in Paris where the team was put up”.