Orissa High Court expresses concern about alleged custodial abuse of fiancée of Army officer 

Orissa High Court grants bail to woman allegedly abused by police; Army officer's fiancée seeks justice.

The Orissa High Court on Wednesday expressed its concern over the alleged custodial abuse of a woman, the fiancée of a serving Army officer, who had gone to a police station in Bhubaneswar to lodge a complaint in a road rage case.

Instead of registering a case based on her complaint, the personnel of Bharatpur police station had arrested her, after allegedly thrashing her following a heated exchange of words between them. The woman had moved the Orissa High Court seeking bail. Judge Justice A.K. Mohapatra granted her bail.

“Taking into consideration the seriousness and gravity of the allegation and the allegation made by the learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner that the custodial detention of the petitioner infringes upon the fundamental right of the petitioner as guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and on a careful examination of the record, it appears that the allegations are very serious in nature,” he observed.

In the bail order, Justice Mohapatra said that by taking a departure from the established practice of considering the bail application only after the same is rejected by the District and Sessions Judge, the High Court had deemed it proper to take up the application of the petitioner on its own merit.

“The allegation made by the accused-petitioner in the present case is an anathema to the very concept of a democratic and orderly society,” the court observed, adding that the allegation with regard to police atrocities should be dealt with utmost seriousness.

The Army had taken strong exception to the alleged ill-treatment of one of its officers by police personnel. Lt. Gen. Padam Singh Shekhawat, General Officer Commanding (GOC) for Madhya Bharat area, on Wednesday met Odisha Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania.

“I want to assure you that the Army chief is personally monitoring this case. What we want is that action should be taken in accordance of rule of law. We cannot take law into our hands... We hope the DGP will take appropriate action and miscreants will be taken to task,” said Lt. General Shekhawat.