Bhubaneswar: The Judicial Commission headed by retired High Court Judge Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash today formally started its probe into the alleged assault of an army officer and his fiancee at a police station in Bhubaneswar last month.
The Commission held its first meeting with Director General of Police (DGP) Y B Khurania, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Satyabrata Sahu, Information & Public Relations Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and other officers here at the Special Circuit House.
“We will seek statements from all stakeholders on affidavit format. The I&PR secretary has been asked to publish the public notice as soon as possible. The concerned persons can submit the affidavit in the next 21 days,” Subhendu Mohanty, Secretary to the Commission, told media persons after the meeting.
The commission also took stock of the crime branch investigation into the incident that took place in Bharatpur police station, he said.
Meanwhile, the five police officials of the police station, who were suspended following the incident, applied for anticipatory bail in Orissa High Court today.
The alleged incident took place on September 15 when the army officer and his female friend approached Bharatpur police station to lodge a complaint of road rage in which they were allegedly harassed by some local youths.
However, a verbal altercation took place between the duo and some policemen following which the officer was ‘tortured’ and his fiancee was allegedly sexually assaulted at the police station.
As the alleged custody assault episode triggered nationwide outrage, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi a week ago ordered for a judicial probe into the incident by a Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash. The commission has been directed to submit its report in 60 days.