Pune: Army Moves to Terminate Special Forces Officer Missing Since 2014; Last Traced to Spain and Norway
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
New Delhi/Pune, 16th February 2026: The Indian Army has initiated formal termination proceedings against Captain Sharyfsinh Bhonsle, a Special Forces officer from Pune who has been missing and declared a ‘deserter’ for over a decade.
In a Show Cause Notice dated October 27, 2025, the Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army) has directed Captain Bhonsle to explain why his services should not be terminated under the Army Act, 1950.
The “Missing” Special Forces Officer
Captain Bhonsle, a resident of Aundh, Pune and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), was commissioned into the elite 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) in 2009. At the time of his disappearance, he was serving in a high-profile role as the Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh.
While the official notice states he failed to rejoin duty after annual leave in August 2014, Army officials have revealed that the officer was actually abroad. Captain Bhonsle had travelled to Spain to participate in a six-day international para-jumping festival without taking the necessary clearance from the Military Intelligence (MI).
His trail later led to Norway, which was identified as his last known location based on activity from his social networking accounts. He has not been seen or heard from officially since.
Legal Action After 11 Years
Despite an Apprehension Roll issued to civil police in 2016, the officer remains elusive. The Chief of the Army Staff has now termed his prolonged illegal absence as “grave misconduct” and “undesirable” for retention in service.
The notice has been served to his family home in Pune. If no response is received within 30 days, the Army will proceed with ex-parte termination of his commission.
