Ex-chiefs of Army, CBI spar over 'assault' on Captain, fiancee in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Former Army chief Gen V K Singh and CBI ex-director M Nageswara Rao, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer, swiped at each other on social media over the alleged assault on a military 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 in which the woman recounted her traumatic experience.Describing the case as "shameful and horrendous", he wrote: "The chief minister should take immediate action against the police personnel and all who are trying to shield the criminals in police uniform." He hashtagged his post as #ShameOnOdishaPolice.
Rao stepped in to defend state police. He suggested the couple was at fault, alleging they were drunk and involved in a brawl with engineering students before going to the police station.
A judicial probe and an investigation by the police crime branch are underway.
Police respect military and expect reciprocation: CBI ex-chief on Odisha thana row
When they (the Army officer and his fiancee) were sent to the hospital for medical examination and blood tests, which is the standard protocol of investigation, they refused, Rao wrote.
“Sir, we, the Indian police, respect and honour our military because that is the last resort in defending the country from external enemies. A reciprocation from the military towards police, which defends the country from internal enemies, is a normal expectation.”
CBI ex-director M Nageswara Rao criticised Gen Singh for his com- ments: “Sir, it is not done that you, having been a Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and later a central minister, jumped to conclusions and castigated Odisha Police for the drunken brawl and uncouth behaviour of an Army officer and his fiancee, and Odisha Police officers were not even at fault.”
He also argued that the Army officer should face consequences for his actions, saying that his conduct was “unbecoming of a soldier”.
However, videos released by police show the Army captain appearing relatively calm during the alleged confrontation.
The controversy stems from the woman’s allegations that she was sexually assaulted inside the police station, while the Army officer was beaten up and charged with assault. Army veterans and opposition BJD members took to the streets to protest the alleged assault.
Odisha govt suspended five police officers, including the inspector in charge of Bharatpur police station. Govt reiterated its “zero tolerance” stand on crimes against women.
The crime branch said the couple had first gone to a bar and later be- came involved in a heated argument with some university students, who allegedly assaulted them. Police sought to conduct a lie detector test on the captain’s fiancee and have requested court permission.