HC Declines Odisha Govt’s Request To Monitor Crime Branch Probe In ‘Custody Assault’ Case; Know Why

Bhubaneswar/Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Monday declined the state government’s request to monitor the Crime Branch probe into the alleged assault of an Army officer and molestation of his fiancée by on-duty cops at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.

“It is needless to say that power and duty of an investigating agency to investigate into a consignable offence is statutory and unless there are exceptional circumstances that the court should not interfere. We don’t find any reason to monitor the investigation. The court excepts that the investigating agency shall act independently and fairly,” Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh said.

While announcing a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice CR Dash in the alleged custody assault incident, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi had also requested the HC to monitor the ongoing Crime Branch investigation.

Also Read: Odisha CM Orders For Judicial Probe Into Bharatpur ‘Custody Assault’ Case

“What’s disturbing, after having seen the sequence of events that admittedly two persons entered into the police station, apparently not to commit any crime but to lodge a complaint. What happened inside the police station is a mystery & being investigated…. It’s however surprising that they came out with a FIR registered against both of them for commission of offence relating to attempt to murder,” High Court Chief Justice observed during the suo motu hearing of the Bharatpur assault case.

“Will anyone go to a Police Station after having noticed this fact?” he questioned.

The Chief Justice told Advocate General Pitambar Acharya that the government has to ensure that public faith in the system is restored.

The HC directed print, electronic & social media not to disclose the names of the Army officer & the person accompanying him to the police station. But it did not restrain the media to report the facts of the case. It also asked ADG (Modernisation) Dayal Gangwar to submit status report of CCTVs at all police stations across the state.

Next hearing of the case will be on October 8.

It was earlier reported that the Crime Branch was finding it difficult to substantiate the allegations and counter allegations being made by the Army officer and the police in connection with the incident since there were no CCTV cameras at the police station.

Also Read: Odisha Crime Branch Mulls Polygraph Test To Unravel Truth In ‘Custody Assault’ Case

Also Read: BJD Calls Off Bhubaneswar Bandh Over ‘Custody Assault’ After Judicial Probe Notification