Dimple Singla was among the first batch of women to be inducted in the Army in 1993. Now, she is the first woman from the Army to have been court-martialled and sent to jail. (Read: What is court martial?)
Retired Major Singla was once a presiding court-martial judge herself. She has been found guilty of selling her verdict for Rs 10,000 in a case involving a jawan in 2004. She's been sentenced to a year in prison.
Singla can contest the judgement by moving the Amed Forces Tribunal. "This is a very rare case where there is no evidence of obtaining money, asking for money, or any payment or recovery of money. The Supreme Court has very strict guidelines in such cases. But in this case, instead of giving her the benefit of doubt, she has been convicted,'' says her lawyer, Colonel (Retd) S K Aggarwal.
Since she has been found guilty, she stands to lose all Army benefits which ex-servicemen are entitled to.