Friday, April 29 2005 20:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: IAF officer Anjali Gupta today (Apr 29, 2005) dismissed the seven charges made against her for the General Court Martial (GCM) as "silly, trivial and meaningless" and as not being in accordance with the law.

Replying to the charges, Gupta's Defence Officer Wg Cdr Bhupesh told the court that the matter should be referred back to the convening authority and "there is no offence which is triable under the Air Force Act".

The court adjourned the proceedings till May 2 for reply of the prosecutor for the charges made by the defence.

The court read out the charges against Gupta like falsely claiming road settlement allowance of Rs 1080 stating that she travelled in her own car in June 2004 between Head Quarters Training Command (HQTC) and Air Force Technical College and making a false claim of Rajdhani express fare from Bangalore to Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi), while flying in a service aircraft for the same.

The charges include claiming conveyance from ASTE to HQTC, while she was posted at HQTC and behaving in a manner unbecoming of an officer by snatching the breakfast prepared for a senior officer and throwing it on the floor.

The last three charges relate to not being present in the station PT on five days and in the daily morning briefing for some days without sufficient reason.

Earlier the court, presided by Group Captain V Ganesh, rejected a plea by Gupta for 15 days time to visit Delhi and discuss with her civil counsel and defend her case effectively as "I can't get justice from men in uniform".