Army Major-fiancee assault case: Judicial panel submits 282-page report to Odisha govt

The judicial commission investigating the alleged torture of an army officer and the sexual harassment of his fiancée at a police station in Bhubaneswar last year submitted its report to the Odisha government on Monday.

Commission Set Up Amid Public Outcry

The state government established the commission, led by retired High Court Justice Chittaranjan Dash, on September 22, 2024, following nationwide outrage over the alleged custodial torture of the two individuals.

The commission’s secretary, Subhendu Mohanty, met Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu and handed over the 282-page report during the day.

“We have submitted the final report to the state government,” Mohanty informed reporters.

Investigation Process And Findings

The panel compiled its findings after examining 525 affidavits and questioning multiple individuals as part of the inquiry, which commenced on October 1 last year.

The incident occurred on the night of 15 September, when the army officer and his fiancée were returning home. They were intercepted by around 12 people travelling in three cars. The officer and the woman subsequently went to Bharatpur police station to report the road rage incident but were allegedly tortured by the police.

Arriving at the police station around 2 am, they requested officers to deploy a police control room (PCR) van to apprehend the miscreants. However, it was alleged that the police subjected them to physical abuse instead of addressing their complaint. Furthermore, it was claimed that the woman was sexually assaulted while in custody.

Disciplinary Action And Government Response

The woman was later arrested on charges of biting a female police officer and misbehaving with other personnel at the station. She has since been released on bail.

Following widespread condemnation, the state government suspended five personnel, including the inspector-in-charge of Bharatpur police station, and ordered a judicial probe into the matter. Additionally, a Crime Branch investigation was initiated.