In response to former Union Minister VK Singh’s criticism of Odisha Police over the alleged assault of an Army officer’s fiancée, former IPS officer M. Nageswara Rao defended the police, stating that they were not at fault.
Rao took issue with Singh’s remarks, highlighting that Singh, as a former Chief of Army Staff and minister, should not have hastily condemned the Odisha Police. Rao claimed the incident involved a “drunken brawl” between the Army officer, his fiancée, and local engineering students, which escalated at the Bharatpur Police Station in Bhubaneswar. He also shared a video, though its authenticity has not been verified.
In his X post, Singh had called the incident “shameful and horrendous” and urged immediate action against the police officers involved, after the fiancée alleged mistreatment by police.
Rao, however, refuted these allegations, claiming that the officer and his fiancée caused a disturbance in the police station and refused to comply with medical protocols for investigation. He emphasized that the Indian police respects the military, expecting reciprocal support, and argued that this incident should not tarnish the image of the police or the military as institutions.
The fiancée of the Army officer, who had been arrested on assault charges but later released on bail, recounted her version of the events, accusing the police of misbehavior when she tried to file a complaint. She was treated for multiple injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, including a dislocated jaw.
Rao concluded by calling for accountability from the Army officer and stressing that the conduct of individuals should not reflect on esteemed institutions like the Indian Army.
