Odisha Assault Case: Judicial probe begins into the alleged torture of Army officer and sexual assault of his fiancée

The judicial commission headed by retired Orissa High Court judge justice Chittaranjan Das on Monday began its probe into the alleged torture of an Army officer and the sexual assault of his fiancee at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar.

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On September 15, an army officer and his fiancée had initially approached the Bharatpur police station to lodge a complaint of road rage in which they were allegedly harassed by some local youths. However, a verbal altercation took place between the duo and some policemen following which the officer and his fiancée were allegedly assaulted at the police station.

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The incident had sparked widespread resentment with the opposition trying to corner the Odisha government over the matter. After suspending five police personnel from Bharatpur Police Station, the Odisha government ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged torture of an Army officer and the sexual assault of his fiancee at Bharatpur Police Station.

Today, the polygraph test of the suspended IIC of Bharatpur police station and four other staff will be conducted at Gujarat.

Secretary of the Commission informed that soon affidavits will be sought from the parties and others who know about the incident or have to say anything on the matter. A notification will be issued tomorrow and affidavits can be submitted within the next 21 days.

After receiving affidavits, the process of examination will start along with the recording of statements. Later, the parties will be summoned to appear before the Commission.

The Commission will subsequently submit its report to the Odisha government, the Secretary said.