Odisha Govt Issues Notification On Judicial Probe Into Bharatpur ‘Custody Assault’ Case; Check Here

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has issued a gazette notification for judicial inquiry into the alleged misbehaviour/assault of a woman and a serving Army officer inside Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.

Justice Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, retired High Court Judge, will head the Commission of Inquiry, which has been requested to submit the report in 60 days.

“It has come to the notice of the state government that cases and counter cases have been lodged alleging misbehaviour/assault on a woman and a serving army officer inside Bharatpur police station… being a matter of serious public importance, should be inquired into by a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952,” the formal notification issued by the Home Department said.

Besides examining the sequence of events and circumstances alleged to have led to the incidents, the Commission has been asked to suggest measures “to avoid the recurrence of such events in future and ensuring safety and security of women”.

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi had announced for judicial inquiry into the alleged assault case on Sunday evening after a high-level meeting attended by the two deputy chief ministers KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari, Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, advocate general Pitambar Acharya, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja and DGP YB Khurania.

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

The CM also requested the High Court to monitor the ongoing Crime Branch investigation.

The Army Captain was thrown into a lockup, his fiancée was allegedly assaulted, molested and flashed when they had arrived at the police station late on September 14 to file a road rage complaint. In a desperate attempt to defend herself, she allegedly bit one of the officers. She was subsequently arrested for creating fracas and assaulting a woman cop and granted bail by Orissa High Court on September 18.

Counter FIR has also been lodged by the police, which had earlier refuted these allegations.