Pune/Wardha, September 1, 2026: The Indian Army has completed its Court of Inquiry into the fatal shooting of a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) at the Central Ammunition Depot (CAD), Pulgaon, in Maharashtra’s Wardha district, and is now preparing to convene a court-martial against the Major accused of opening fire.
The inquiry was conducted by the Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub Area and presided over by an officer of Brigadier rank. The panel has submitted its findings to the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Branch of the Southern Command.
The subsequent Summary of Evidence, a key procedural step before disciplinary trial proceedings under military law, has also been completed. According to a senior Army officer quoted by The Times of India, a court-martial is now being planned on the basis of the evidence collected during the proceedings.
The accused Major has remained in military custody since the shooting. Army sources said the matter is being processed under the Army Act as the incident occurred inside a military establishment and involved serving personnel.
The competent military authority will determine the appropriate form of court-martial after examining the nature of the alleged offence, the findings of the inquiry and the evidence formally recorded in the case.
Shooting Took Place During Firing Practice
The fatal shooting occurred on the morning of May 15, 2026, during routine small-arms firing practice at the Central Ammunition Depot in Pulgaon. CAD Pulgaon is one of the Indian military’s major ammunition storage and logistics establishments.
According to the First Information Report registered at Pulgaon police station, Major Manan Tiwari, who was posted at the depot, allegedly opened fire on Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand of the Defence Security Corps (DSC) using a 5.56 mm INSAS rifle.
The incident allegedly occurred while the JCO was collecting empty cartridge cases following firing practice.
The FIR was registered on the basis of a statement given by Lance Naik Bir Singh Dhami and invoked Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with murder.
Police accounts indicated that the JCO suffered multiple gunshot injuries, including a fatal injury to the head. The alleged firing was reported to have taken place at close range.
Other soldiers present at the range reportedly restrained the Major immediately following the shooting.
No established motive behind the alleged shooting has so far been made public.
The Defence Public Relations Officer in Nagpur had initially described the JCO’s death as the result of a firing accident during routine practice and said that both the Army and civilian police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
JCO Was Months Away From Retirement
Subedar Major Om Bahadur Khand, 56, was originally from Nepal and had served in the armed forces for several decades. He was reportedly due to retire approximately six months after the incident.
His death caused considerable concern within service circles, particularly because of the circumstances in which the shooting allegedly occurred.
The JCO’s family also has a longstanding association with the armed forces, with two of his sons reportedly serving in the military.
Army Completes Court of Inquiry and Summary of Evidence
Following the incident, the Army ordered a Court of Inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The inquiry examined evidence from the scene and recorded statements from Army personnel who were present at the firing range. It was headed by a Brigadier-rank officer under the Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub Area.
With the Court of Inquiry completed, the Army subsequently conducted the Summary of Evidence, during which material relevant to the allegations is formally recorded before a decision is taken on proceeding with a military trial.
Both stages have now been completed, clearing the way for the competent military authority to consider convening a court-martial.
If the court-martial is convened, charges will be formally considered and evidence and witnesses will be examined in accordance with military law. Questions surrounding the circumstances of the shooting and any possible motive are also expected to be examined during the proceedings.
The planning of a court-martial does not itself amount to a finding of guilt. The accused officer will be entitled to defend himself against the charges during the military judicial process.
Civil Police Investigation Also Underway
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 following the registration of the murder case. However, because the accused is a serving Army officer and the alleged offence occurred within a military establishment, the interaction between military and civilian proceedings is governed by provisions dealing with concurrent jurisdiction over offences involving armed forces personnel.
Material seized during the investigation has also reportedly been sent to the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.
Civilian police are expected to determine the next stage of their investigation in accordance with the applicable legal procedure and developments in the military proceedings.
For now, the Major continues to remain in military custody.
The completion of both the Court of Inquiry and Summary of Evidence marks a significant development in the case, moving it 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.
