Beyond Headlines An attempt to 'report a cause aright'
Abhishek Upadhyay for BeyondHeadlines
This time court martial was laid bare like anything. The secret ring woven around it was torn apart. A major from 61, cavalry Jaipur did it. He did what hundreds of victims like him, couldn’t even dream off. It was 5th October 2011 and Major Saurabh Saharan, who is at present under close arrest of the army, was facing summary of evidence in Jaipur, a part of court martial process. He was charged for having relationship with an American woman, contrary to army rules and finally dumping her for petty gains. The officer, Saurabh Saharan was no ordinary officer. To give just a brief about his achievements, he is a renowned Equestrian (Horse back) Rider and Polo Player who has represented the Country in the international level in Show jumping and Polo apart from participating in numerous Polo and Equestrian Events at the national level.
The officer recording Summary of Evidence had arrived. The process began and major Saurabh Saharan started giving answers to the question, posed to him. He gave details about witnesses, presented his point of view and put up spirited defence in favour of his innocence. Summary of evidence process was over. Major Saurabh Saharan’s sixth sense was working well and it proved absolutely correct as he got to see papers related with his summary of evidence. He was surprised to see, whatever he had answered during the process, was inverted at 90 degree. He had given detail about the witnesses but was recorded in paper that he didn’t want to do so. He had put up arguments in his defence but was mentioned in summary of evidence papers that he didn’t have any points and so on.
Major Saharan had smelt the rot well in advance so he went to attend the summary of evidence process, laced with a sting camera. The hidden camera recorded the truth of the process. Major got his share of evidence and submitted it to Armed Force Tribunal (AFT) Jaipur and subsequently AFT Delhi. He also sent one copy to Lt. General SK Singh, then General Officer Commanding in Chief, south western command. Major Saharan has brought out in his application the serious allegations of manipulation and fudging of official records by the officer, recording summary of evidences who has been the Officer-in-Charge of the AFT Legal Cell, Jaipur.
This was the climax of the story which is now, a part of judicial process of armed force tribunal Jaipur as well as Delhi. But the beginning of this story is equally interesting. Major Saurabh Saharan of 61 cavalry, Jaipur was charged by an American woman Nancey chapman, 54 year old, of grabbing 19 lakh rupees from her, by doing false promises. Following her complaint, army ordered court of inquiry against him, which is the first process of court martial. If facts of the complaints are found to be reliable and true then the second step “summary of evidences” takes place where specific evidences are registered. Interestingly major got de facto clean chit in court of inquiry. On 16th august 2011, Lt General SK Singh, the then GOC-in chief south western command, quashed court of inquiry. During this process of court of inquiry, some major contradictions were noticed in the statements of Nancey Chapman.
But surprisingly, on 30th August, 2011, the case against Major Saurabh Saharan was reopened, taking cognizance of an old dated complaint. This was an old complaint filed by same Nancey chapman on 30th may, 2009. The petition of Major filed before AFT explains the goof up ,” Army officers took cognizance of an unsigned complaint purported to have been sent by the complainant which was actually produced in the Court of Inquiry for the first time by the Court of Inquiry itself instead of its production by any witness. The ulterior motive of the Respondents was quite apparent because they dispensed with the Court of Inquiry based on an unsigned typed complaint to conclude prima facie case against the applicant when inspite of a full-fledged Court of Inquiry conducted over a period of almost one year, no case was made out against the Applicant resulting in fudging of Court of Inquiry by the Respondents.”
This step alerted the Major and made him conscious for the future moves. He decided to expose the rot of the process and did the sting operation to prove his point. Major’s case is at present under the judicial scrutiny of Armed forces tribunal Delhi. The Army Headquarter is also well aware of the developments. Major Saurabh Saharan is at present under close arrest while court martial is going on. The outcome of his case is well awaited as it might become a landmark for future such actions.
I do not understand why Major Saurabh is under close arrest as nothing has been proven against him so far not even through the court of inquiry. Either this article is not covering the whole truth or there is something seriously wrong with the legal system in the military in India. It is quite understandable that Court of Inquiry id ordered merely to establish if the allegation has some substantial grounds to proceed further or not. Clear cut mandate is given in the court of inquiry that includes “apportioning blame” in some cases. When he was let free and given a clean chit after the court of inquiry, how can an old complaint be made the basis for putting him under arrest? What could be the motive of the officers recording the summary of evidence fudging the facts and distorting the statement given by Major Saurabh? I wonder if this can trigger an unrest amongst all those who are being tried under such a corrupt system. What is the role of JAG (Judge Advocate General) branch of Indian army? Why have they not step in?
It’s a good post.
Your article is without truth. First Saurabh Saharan is and never was a renowned Equestrian (Horse back) Rider and Polo Player who has represented the Country in the international level in Show jumping and Polo apart from participating in numerous Polo and Equestrian Events at the national level.
He wasn’t even known before this case. He was only given a higher goal ranking by his cousin Col. Tarun who was his commanding officer at that time. Please stop making him something he isn’t.
This case has gone on for four years because he was guilty and his case was much more than just association with a foreigner. He was a con man, lier,and one of the worst characters you can imagine. The Indian Army doesn’t want men like this. He lied throughout the four years of inquiry, wrote evil letters trying to incriminate all of the officers involved. Even going so far as forging letters and falsifying records. No one came forward in his defense except his father and one other person who were all caught in their lies.
He wasted the Army’s time and tried to make fools of everyone but didn’t succeed. Not a very bright guy. He had every opportunity to prove his innocence in four years. Are you trying to say, he is more intelligent than all the soldiers who had to sit and listen to his lies? These officers were away from their families for long periods of time but gave him respect at all times.
Review your article and check the records and report the truth.
His father desperately tried to have Ms Chapman investigated with no prevail. She is to be honored for standing up to this (Thug) in defense of India.
His crimes are much more than association with a foreigner, taking money and scamming. Evidence of photos, signatures,phone records and airline tickets were all presented. She had many threats to her life which were reported to the police. Her computer was broken into and all her information deleted. He thought he could get the money, threaten her and she would run away. What a shock he got.
They gave him every opportunity and he just kept lying.
Please do better research with true evidence All this is available to the media so do your research. Thank you