This Article is From Oct 25, 2014

Wife of Sailor, Who Reportedly Accused Seniors of Corruption, Complains Against Navy

Kochi: Wife of a sailor of the Indian Navy from the Eastern Naval Command, who had raised allegations of financial irregularities against his senior officers, today alleged her husband was being illegally kept in a hospital in Kochi and efforts were being made to establish that he was
suffering from mental illness.

Sunil Kumar Sahu, shipwright artificer at INS Kattabomman, Vijayanarayanam, in Tirunelveli, which comes under the Eastern Naval command, had allegedly raised allegations of corruption against his commanding officers.

Sahu's wife Aarti said he was locked up in a cell following this and brought to Kochi on October 23 and admitted at the INS Sanjivini in Kochi for treatment.

The Navy has instituted an inquiry into the allegations made by the officer. Delays, if any, to address his concerns is because the base he is posted at was controlled by Vizag, which was one of the worst hit in Cyclone Hudhud, said sources.

The sailor's wife has alleged that efforts were being made by the Navy to portray Sahu as a mental patient. He has been kept at the psychiatry ward, she said.

"I want my husband to be discharged from the hospital. He does not have any problem. I would like him to be shifted to a civil hospital if there is need. I do not have faith in the doctors at the Naval hospital," she told PTI.

"There is no problem with my husband. He was forcibly brought to Kochi," Aarti, who is in the city with her two-year old son, said, adding that she was told that he would be kept on observation for 10 days.

Meanwhile, a defence spokesperson said Mr Sahu was brought to Kochi from INS Kattabomman for "medical advice. That advice is being provided. No treatment was being given to him".

The sailor was sent to Kochi for medical assessment. "He is only being assessed for any health requirement the doctor has asked", the spokesperson said.

Aarti, who is presently staying with her husband's friend, said she was asked to vacate the accommodation provided to the family at the Naval base in Kochi yesterday.

The spokesperson said though she was not required to accompany him, she insisted on coming and "We allowed her to stay for the night on humanitarian grounds. There is no provision to permit Sahu's family to stay at the naval base and the accommodation provided so far was on humanitarian grounds".

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