After IAF Officer's Death, Rs 21 Lakh Goes to 'Unknown' Wife, Family Demands Answers
Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar's death in the Jorhat IAF crash has sparked a controversy after his family discovered that ?21 lakh compensation was given to his legally recognized wife, whose marriag
The recent Indian Air Force aircraft crash near Jorhat claimed the lives of five IAF personnel, including 25-year-old Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar.
When soldiers die in the line of duty, their families receive compensation and benefits. In Shubham's case, the Bihar government provided an ex-gratia amount of ?21 lakh. But what happened next left his family shocked.
The cheque was handed over to a woman named Shreya Rai, who was officially recorded as Shubham's legal wife.
The surprise? Shubham's father, Amarendra Sharma, says the family never knew their son was married.
After the crash, Shreya travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar, accompanied Shubham's mortal remains, and attended his funeral. The family knew the two were in a relationship and were expected to marry in the future. Their wedding had reportedly been planned for late 2026 but was postponed due to a family bereavement.
However, the family later discovered that Shubham and Shreya had allegedly already completed a court marriage in secret.
Officials confirmed that government records identified Shreya as Shubham's legal spouse, making her eligible for the compensation under existing rules.
While Shubham's father says that if the marriage was genuine, Shreya has every right to the money, he feels hurt that neither she nor officials informed the family about the marriage. He has also appealed for financial assistance, saying his son was the family's sole support.
The incident has since sparked intense debate online. Some social media users accuse Shreya of taking advantage of the situation, while others point out that defence personnel usually nominate beneficiaries in official records. If Shubham had named Shreya as his dependent, authorities would simply be following his documented wishes.
It is important to note that the ?21 lakh was a state government compensation. Details regarding any benefits, insurance, or dues payable by the Indian Air Force have not yet been made public.
