Army suspends colonel facing 12 charges

Army suspends colonel facing 12 charges of irregularities, including attempt to protect jawan under investigation

Colonel Ashish Singh Mehta has been suspended for 90 days after a hearing at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre.

The Indian Army last month suspended the commanding officer of an infantry unit attached to the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre in New Delhi who faces 12 charges of irregularities under various sections of the Army Act.

Colonel Ashish Singh Mehta was the commanding officer of the 16th Battalion of the Jat Regiment, which was part of 16 Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Divisions (RAPIDs) at Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. He has been accused of charges related to an alleged attempt to save a jawan from his unit who was under investigation by the Delhi Area Provost Unit. He faces ten charges under Army Act Section 63 (act prejudicial to good order and military discipline) and two under Section 45 of the Army Act (being an officer behaving in a manner unbecoming his position and the character expected of him).

order. Col Mehta is undergoing disciplinary proceedings for 12 charges, as per the directions of the General Officer Commanding Delhi Area dated May 1, 2025, and the further directions of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command dated August 28, 2025.

As per information available with The Indian Express, the Commandant, Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, held the hearing of the charge proceedings on December 5, 2025, against Col Mehta, and a summary of evidence was recorded during the hearing.

The suspension order states that considering the gravity of the offences alleged to have been committed by Col Mehta, the character and conduct as an officer and a gentleman have been impugned.

Army suspends colonel facing 12 charges of irregularities, including attempt to protect jawan under investigation

Colonel Ashish Singh Mehta has been suspended for 90 days after a hearing at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre

The officer is also learnt to have asked that the hearing of the charge conducted on December 5, 2025, should be declared vitiated for being in violation of Army Rule 22.

Brigadier Raman Sharma, Commandant of Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, where the officer is attached, issued the suspension order. Col Mehta is undergoing disciplinary proceedings for 12 charges, as per the directions of the General Officer Commanding Delhi Area dated May 1, 2025, and the further directions of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command dated August 28, 2025.

As per information available with The Indian Express, the Commandant, Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre, held the hearing of the charge proceedings on December 5, 2025, against Col Mehta, and a summary of evidence was recorded during the hearing.

The suspension order states that considering the gravity of the offences alleged to have been committed by Col Mehta, the character and conduct as an officer and a gentleman have been impugned.

In exercise of power conferred under the provisions of Para 349 of the Regulations for the Army, 1987 (revised edition), Col Mehta was placed under suspension with effect from December 12, 2025, for a period of 90 days. The suspension order will be revised after a period of 90 days, depending on progress.

Sources said that the colonel has made a representation to the Army authorities following the suspension order and has asked for the immediate quashing/withdrawal of the “illegal suspension order,” as it violates the Suspension Policy 2006. He is also learnt to have demanded a certified copy of the court of inquiry proceedings and all file notings that led to the chargesheet.

The officer is also learnt to have asked that the hearing of the charge conducted on December 5, 2025, should be declared vitiated for being in violation of Army Rule 22. He also asked for direction for fresh and independent re-analysis of the court of inquiry proceedings, as the existing COI suffers from gfundamental defects, contains no admissible evidence against him, and is based solely on presumptions and conjectures.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/army-suspends-colonel-facing-12-charges-of-irregularities-including-attempt-to-protect-jawan-under-investigation-10456170/