The Orissa High Court granted bail on Wednesday to a female companion of an Indian Army officer who was arrested over the weekend in Bhubaneswar, highlighting procedural lapses by the police during the arrest. Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra, while granting bail, pointed out that the police officers involved failed to adhere to the procedures outlined in section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which governs the conditions under which an individual can be arrested without a magistrate’s order.
The court expressed concern over the manner in which the arrest was carried out and called for action, citing the Supreme Court’s judgment in Satender Kumar Antil vs Central Bureau of Investigation to guide police behavior. Justice Mohapatra advised the police administration to work towards gaining the trust of the public.
The incident began when the army officer, stationed in West Bengal, and his friend visited the Bharatpur police station in Bhubaneswar early Sunday morning to report a road rage incident. The officer alleged harassment by local youths. However, details about the events that transpired at the police station remain unclear. Both the officer and his female companion were reportedly assaulted by the police, with the woman later being arrested.
Following the arrest, the Odisha police initially defended the actions of the officers. However, on Tuesday, the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) was ordered to take over the investigation. In light of the court’s ruling, Odisha’s Director General of Police, YB Khurania, suspended five police officers involved in the case. Those suspended include Inspector Dinakrushna Mishra, Woman Sub-Inspector Baisalini Panda, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Salilamayee Sahoo and Sagarika Rath, and Constable Balaram Hansda.
The high court’s decision has brought renewed attention to the allegations of police misconduct, and the state government has been urged to address the situation with seriousness. An internal investigation into the actions of the police officers is currently underway.
Sources By Agencies