Odisha Custody Assault Case: CB Seeks Permission For Polygraph Test; Victims Gets PSOs

Bhubaneswar: A Crime Branch (CB) team visited Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to recreate the crime scene in connection with the alleged custodial assault on the intervening night of September 14-15.

The Army officer and his fiancée have also reached the police station, sources said.

The officials also visited Pathargadia on Chandaka Road, where the couple allegedly had a scuffle with some students late on September 14, following which they had approached police to lodge a road rage complaint, leading to the alleged custody torture of the duo.

Polygraph test

The CB has also moved a court, seeking permission to conduct a lie detector test on the Army officer’s fiancée and some police personnel, accused of sexual misconduct, after securing written consent from the woman.

The polygraph test will be conducted at the state forensic science laboratory here.

This was necessitated as the agency was finding it difficult to confirm the veracity of the allegations and also the counter allegations of police in the absence of CCTV cameras at the police station on the night of the incident and lack of independent witnesses.

Also Read: CCTVs Mystery Add Twist To Army Officer, Fiancée Assault Case In Bhubaneswar [Watch]

PSOs for victims

On the request of the woman’s father, the Twin City Commissionerate Police has assigned a Personal Security Officer each for the Army officer and his fiancée. The PSOs would accompany the two while they travel within the city.

During a meeting with Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, the woman’s father, a retired brigadier rank Army officer, mentioned about some leaked videos, doing the rounds on social media, and termed it as a smear campaign against his daughter. “These videos were leaked to character-assassinate her and to build a different narrative. I have requested the government to take action as per the law in this regard. Also, I sought protection for my daughter, who is running a restaurant, at her workplace. The CM has assured to direct the local police to provide necessary security to her,” he told reporters.

Besides having over the case to CB, Odisha DGP had earlier suspended five police personnel, including the IIC of Bharatpur police station, in connection with the incident. Seven engineering students were also arrested on the basis of the road rage complaint and later released on bail.