New Delhi:After completing a detailed debriefing of 12 days, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was advised to go on sick leave. According to a senior official, Abhinandan will take several months before he is declared fit for flying.  The fighter pilot will now go on sick leave for a few weeks.

Officials claim that his sick leave may extend for up to three weeks. During the debriefing period, medical team and senior officials of IAF thoroughly checked if Abhinandan was bugged by any spyware. The fighter pilot underwent a series of medical tests as part of a cooling down process. He also underwent medical tests at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. During this phase, he also narrated his experience in being captive in Pakistan. As per media reports he had complained of extreme mental harassment.

During a medical scan conducted on him after his return, doctors found out that the pilot had received an injury in his lower spine which could have been as a result of the ejection when his jet was shot down after aerial engagement with an F-16.

The medical review board will examine his report and fitness and decide when he can resume his services as a fighter pilot.

He was captured by the Pakistani armed forces after his MiG-21 Bison fighter jet was shot down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets in Indian airspace along the Line of Control on February 27. He was released by Pakistan on March 1.