Friday, June 10 2005 17:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: A military court today (Jun 10, 2005) awarded ten days time to IAF Flying Officer Anjali Gupta, facing charges of indiscipline, insubordination and irregularities, to procure a civil defence counsel of her choice to defend her in the General Court Martial (GCM) proceedings against her. The GCM adjourned proceedings to June 21.

Gupta had refused to cross-examine the second witness, Master Warrant Officer M Singh in earlier hearings citing lack of knowledge of the art of cross-examination.

Her defending officer Gp. Capt. Vijay Kumar had also not cross-examined him, saying he had no instructions from Gupta, who had repeatedly said she had no faith him.

Today, Gupta refused to cross-examine the third witness Wing Commander Lalit Mohan, who was the then Accounts officer, citing the same reason. The 28-year-old Gupta sought 20 days' time to procure a civil defence counsel. She had contended earlier that she had no confidence in IAF defending officers.

The GCM, which had earlier expressed the view that she can bring in her defence counsel at any stage of the trial and till that time she should persist with an IAF defending officer, granted her ten days' time.