Army to Convene Court-Martial Against Major in CAD Pulgaon JCO Killing Case
Pune/Wardha, September 1, 2026: The Indian Army has completed its internal inquiry into the fatal shooting of a Junior Commissioned Officer at the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon, in Maharashtra’s Wardha district, and is now moving toward convening a court-martial against the Major accused of opening fire.
The Court of Inquiry was conducted by the Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub Area and presided over by a Brigadier-rank officer. Its findings have been submitted to the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of the Southern Command, while the Summary of Evidence — the formal pre-trial process under military law — has also been completed.
According to a senior Army officer quoted by The Times of India, the evidence gathered during these proceedings is now being used to plan a court-martial. The accused Major has remained in military custody since the shooting.
Army sources said the case is being processed under the Army Act because the incident took place inside a military establishment and involved serving personnel. The competent military authority will now decide the exact form of court-martial after reviewing the alleged offence, the inquiry findings and the evidence formally recorded in the matter.
Fatal shooting during firing practice
The incident occurred on the morning of May 15, 2026, during routine small-arms firing practice at CAD Pulgaon, one of the Indian military’s major ammunition storage and logistics installations.
As per the First Information Report registered at Pulgaon police station, Major Manan Tiwari, who was posted at the depot, allegedly fired at Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) using a 5.56 mm INSAS rifle.
The FIR, based on a statement by Lance Naik Bir Singh Dhami, invoked Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to murder. Police accounts said the JCO suffered multiple gunshot injuries, including a fatal wound to the head, and that the shots were fired at close range.
The alleged shooting took place while the JCO was collecting empty cartridge cases after the firing practice. Soldiers present at the range reportedly restrained the Major immediately after the shooting.
No confirmed motive has been made public so far. In the immediate aftermath, the Defence Public Relations Officer in Nagpur had described the death as a firing accident during routine practice and said that both the Army and civilian police were looking into the circumstances.
Subedar Major near retirement
Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand was 56 and originally from Nepal. He had served in the armed forces for several decades and was reportedly about six months away from retirement when he was killed.
His death drew concern within service circles, not only because of the circumstances of the incident but also because of his long service. The family also has a military connection, with two of his sons reportedly serving in the armed forces.
Military process now moves toward trial
After the shooting, the Army ordered a Court of Inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. The panel examined evidence from the site and recorded statements from Army personnel who were present at the firing range.
With that inquiry now complete, the Army has also finished the Summary of Evidence, a stage in which material relevant to the allegations is formally recorded before the question of trial is taken up. Together, these steps have cleared the way for the competent military authority to consider convening a court-martial.
If a court-martial is convened, the charges will be formally examined and evidence and witnesses will be tested under military law. The circumstances of the shooting and any possible motive are also expected to come under scrutiny during the proceedings.
The decision to plan a court-martial is not a finding of guilt. The accused officer will be entitled to defend himself during the military judicial process.
Parallel civil police case continues
Wardha Police registered an FIR on the day of the shooting and began a parallel criminal investigation. Police had sought custody of the Major for questioning after the murder case was filed.
Because the accused is a serving Army officer and the alleged offence took place inside a military establishment, the case involves the legal overlap between military and civilian jurisdiction in matters concerning armed forces personnel.
Material seized during the inquiry has reportedly been sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. Civilian police are expected to decide the next step in their investigation in line with the applicable legal process and developments in the military case.
For now, the Major remains in military custody. With the Court of Inquiry and Summary of Evidence both completed, the case has moved closer to a formal military trial nearly four months after the fatal shooting at CAD Pulgaon. No date has yet been announced for the proposed court-martial.
