Flying Officer Anjali Gupta was an

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

(IAF) officer who served in Air Force from 2001 to 2006. She was the first female officer in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

and in the Air Force to be court martialled. She was working at the Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment in

Bangalore Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

Early life and education

Anjali Gupta was born in

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

to schoolteacher mother, Umand Gupta, and a bank officer father. Anjali was the second of three sisters. Anjali completed her graduation and post-graduation in

Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries betwe ...

and also had an

M.Phil. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil ...

from

Delhi University Delhi University (DU), formally the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate Central university (India), central university located in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1922 by an Act of the Central Legislative Assembly and ...

. She joined IAF through Short Service Commission (SSC) officer in the Education branch and was first posted at

Belgaum Belgaum (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma''; also Belgaon and officially known as Belagavi) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located in its northern part along the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

in 2001.

Allegations of harassment

In February 2005, Anjali Gupta filed a case against three of her superiors at a police station in Bangalore. The police asked her to resolve the issue with her superiors. Anjali Gupta later approached the

Karnataka High Court Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

, demanding an enquiry by the

Central Bureau of Investigation The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the premier investigating agency of India. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. Originally set up to investigate bribery and governmen ...

. A few days after Anjali Gupta alleged in a TV interview that she was a victim of

sexual harassment Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit sexual overtones, including the unwelcome and inappropriate promises of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. Sexual harassment includes a range of actions fro ...

at the workplace,

General Court Martial A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...

(GCM) proceedings against her were initiated.

Trial and dismissal

She was placed under house arrest after she made a statement before the Karnataka State Commission for Women that she "''is on the verge of taking her life''" because of alleged harassment by her superiors. IAF administration had her examined by a panel of psychiatrists comprising doctors from

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences is a medical institution in Bangalore, India. NIMHANS is the apex centre for mental health and neuroscience education in the country. It is an Institute of National Importance operates ...

and Institute of Aerospace Medicine. She was later admitted to Command Hospital. Falsely claiming travel allowance and throwing a breakfast parcel of her senior's were among the fifteen offenses she was initially accused of. In the final chargesheet, the number of charges was reduced to seven. Anjali Gupta was dismissed from service in 2005 after a five-member General Court Martial (GCM) jury convicted her of misappropriating funds, insubordination and failure to report for duty.

Death

On 11 September 2011, Anjali Gupta was found hanging at a relative's home in

Bhopal Bhopal (; ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of both Bhopal district and Bhopal division. It is known as the ''City of Lakes'' due to its various natural and artificial lakes. It i ...

. Police have detained her former colleague Group Captain Amit Gupta for questioning over her alleged suicide. Anjali Gupta's parents have informed the media that Group Captain Amit Gupta and Anjali were in a relationship and living together.{{cite web, date=14 September 2011, title=Anjali Gupta suicide: 'IAF officer held was under surveillance', url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/anjali-gupta-suicide-iaf-officer-under-surveillance/1/151234.html, accessdate=17 September 2011, publisher=

India Today ''India Today'' is a weekly Indian English-language news magazine published by Living Media India Limited. It is the most widely circulated magazine in India, with a readership of close to 8 million. In 2014, ''India Today'' launched a new onl ...

References

Indian Air Force officers 1970 births 2011 deaths People from Delhi