Tuesday, May 24 2005 18:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: IAF Flying Officer Anjali Gupta, who has been arraigned on charges of indiscipline, insubordination and financial irregularities by a military court in Bangalore, was today (May 24, 2005) taken to Institute of Aerospace Medicine for conducting a psychiatric evaluation test.

The 28-year-old official was also slated to be taken to IAF-run Command Hospital, as IAF administration initiated moves to find out if she has "suicidal tendencies" before releasing her from "close arrest." IAF Prosecutor Wg. Cdr R K Dubey informed the General Court Martial (GCM) that the IAF administration is set to release her from "close arrest" if it was known from the tests that her mental frame of mind is sound.

Gupta, who works at the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment Bangalore, last month (April) complained to the Karnataka Commission for Women that she was on the verge of taking her life, citing perceived harassment.

Her mother, Uma Gupta had said the officer was under tremendous emotional and mental stress and "If this kind of harassment continues, it will lead her to take extreme steps like suicide." IAF had maintained that she was in "close arrest" to prevent her from harming herself.

Anjali had repeatedly sought release from close arrest, saying she needed to personally visit her prospective civil Defence counsel. GCM had told her that during GCM proceedings, close arrest was warranted but once the hearing was adjourned, it was for the IAF administration to decide whether to continue with it or not.