BHUBANESWAR: Former Military chief Gen V K Singh and CBI ex-director M Nageswara Rao, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer, swiped at one another on social media over the alleged assault on a navy captain and his fiancee at Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar on Sept 15.
Gen Singh, a former Union minister, shared on X a video from Sept 20 by which the girl recounted her traumatic expertise.Describing the case as “shameful and horrendous”, he wrote: “The chief minister ought to take instant motion in opposition to the police personnel and all who’re attempting to protect the criminals in police uniform.” He hashtagged his put up as #ShameOnOdishaPolice.
Rao stepped in to defend state police. He recommended the couple was at fault, alleging they have been drunk and concerned in a brawl with engineering college students earlier than going to the police station.
A judicial probe and an investigation by the police crime department are underway.
Police respect navy and anticipate reciprocation: CBI ex-chief on Odisha thana row
After they (the Military officer and his fiancee) have been despatched to the hospital for medical examination and blood assessments, which is the usual protocol of investigation, they refused, Rao wrote.
“Sir, we, the Indian police, respect and honour our navy as a result of that’s the final resort in defending the nation from exterior enemies. A reciprocation from the navy in the direction of police, which defends the nation from inside enemies, is a traditional expectation.”
CBI ex-director M Nageswara Rao criticised Gen Singh for his com- ments: “Sir, it isn’t executed that you just, having been a Chief of Military Employees (COAS) and later a central minister, jumped to conclusions and castigated Odisha Police for the drunken brawl and uncouth behaviour of an Military officer and his fiancee, and Odisha Cops weren’t even at fault.”
He additionally argued that the Military officer ought to face penalties for his actions, saying that his conduct was “unbecoming of a soldier”.
Nevertheless, movies launched by police present the Military captain showing comparatively calm through the alleged confrontation.
The controversy stems from the girl’s allegations that she was sexually assaulted contained in the police station, whereas the Military officer was crushed up and charged with assault. Military veterans and opposition BJD members took to the streets to protest the alleged assault.
Odisha govt suspended 5 law enforcement officials, together with the inspector in control of Bharatpur police station. Govt reiterated its “zero tolerance” stand on crimes in opposition to girls.
The crime department mentioned the couple had first gone to a bar and later be- got here concerned in a heated argument with some college college students, who allegedly assaulted them. Police sought to conduct a lie detector check on the captain’s fiancee and have requested court docket permission.
