Bharatpur case: Odisha govt extends Commission of Inquiry tenure

The Odisha government on Saturday extended the tenure of the Commission of Inquiry probing the alleged misbehaviour/assault of a woman and serving army officer inside Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar.

According to a notification issued by the Home Department, the tenure of the Commission of Inquiry consisting of Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash (Retd.) has been extended till 31 January 2025. The Commission's tenure was expiring on 22 November 2024.

“… The inquiry is in progress and the tenure stipulated in the said Notification expires on 22.11.2024. Now, therefore, in the exercise of powers conferred by Section-3 of The Orissa Commission of Inquiry Rules, 1979 read with Section-3 and sub-section (1) of Section 5 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952, the State Government make the following amendment in the said Notification namely:…” the notification read.

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“In paragraph 3 of the above said Notification, for the words “within 60 days”, the words “within 31st January 2025” shall be substituted,” the notification read further.

Worth mentioning, the Odisha government had formed a judicial inquiry commission headed by Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash (Retd.) to probe the alleged violence against an army Major and his fiancee in police custody.

Notably, the Army Major and his fiancee were allegedly tortured by the police when they had gone to the police station to complain about road rage. Some youths allegedly harassed them on the road on the same night. Instead of addressing their concerns, the police allegedly tortured the Major and the woman, even sending her to jail.

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The Indian Army Major and his fiancee on Thursday appeared before the judicial commission as part of the probe. The judicial commission is scheduled to visit the crime spot on November 19.