Army Officer, Fiancee Assault Case: Orissa HC Directs Media Not To Reveal Names Of Victims

The Orissa High Court has decided not to monitor the ongoing Crime Branch inquiry into the Bharatpur Police Station assault case. The court further stated that the power and duty of an investigating agency to investigate a cognizable offence is statutory and unless there are exceptional circumstances that the court should not interfere.

Cuttack (Odisha): While hearing the case related to the custodial torture of an Army Major and his fiancee at Bharatpur Police Station, the Orissa High Court directed the electronic, print media and social media platforms not to reveal the names of the Army Officer and his fiancee. The court also directed ADG ( Modernisation) Dayal Gangwar to submit a status report of CCTVs at all police stations across the state. The court came up with a directive while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over the incident.

The Orissa High Court, which has decided not to monitor the ongoing Crime Branch probe into the Bharatpur Police Station case, and said, "The power and duty of an investigating agency to investigate a cognizable offence is statutory and unless there are exceptional circumstances that the court should not interfere. We don't find any reason to monitor the investigation. The court said that the investigating agency shall act independently and fairly," said the High Court.

On Sunday, the State Government ordered judicial inquiry into the incident in which an Indian Army officer and his fiancée were allegedly assaulted by on-duty police personnel and also requested the Orissa High Court to directly monitor the ongoing Crime Branch investigation into the case.

The Odisha government issued formal gazette notification for judicial inquiry into custodial torture of Army Major, his fiancee. The Home Department issued formal gazette notification for judicial inquiry into the alleged misbehaviour/assault of a woman and a serving Army Officer inside Bharatpur Police Station.

"The Commission of Inquiry consisting of Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, retired High Court Judge, to inquire into and report in respect of the following matters within 60 days from the date of publication of this notification in the Odisha Gazette..." the notification read.

Earlier, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a judicial inquiry into the alleged torture of an Army Officer and assault of his fiancee at Bharatpur Police Station.