Lance Havildar Abhay Kumar Singh of the 9th Battalion of the Bihar Regiment was found guilty of two charges, including using forged documents and desertion of service while receiving treatment. He was sentenced to nine months of rigorous imprisonment and dismissed from his position.
The verdict was delivered on 4 November 2025 during the court martial proceedings held in Ambala under the presidency of Colonel Prakash Raj. According to The Indian Express, Singh’s case involved his continued unauthorized absence and submission of fabricated medical records.
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Proceedings and defence
Investigations revealed that Singh left the Command Hospital in Lucknow on July 9, 2019, without availing official leave and did not report back for more than three years. He resurfaced on December 16, 2022, when he appeared at the Army Hospital in Namkum, Ranchi, again without any sanctioned leave.
The inquiry found that Singh had allegedly submitted forged medical documents and misled superiors regarding his treatment history. Complaints from his village further stated that he was seen living at home for an extended period while claiming to be on active duty.
The General Officer Commanding, 9 Infantry Division, Maj Gen Bharat Mehtani, issued the convening order for the trial in June 2025. Singh had three charges framed against him. The court found Singh guilty on counts of unauthorized absence under Section 38(1) of the Army Act and for using forged documents while acquitting him on one count relating to obstruction of discipline.
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The defense during the proceedings pleaded that Singh served with distinction, received a grenade injury, and the complaints against him were due to local enmities at his village. However, the military court upheld the charges, citing the Army's zero-tolerance policy toward desertion and falsification of records.
The case, as reported by The Indian Express, underscores the strict disciplinary framework of the Indian Army and the formal legal process governing court martial proceedings in cases of desertion and misconduct.
