Trainee IPS Officer Remanded for 14 Days in Hyderabad Sexual Assault Case

Trainee Indian Police Service (IPS) officer accused of sexually harassing and assaulting a fellow woman probationer at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days, marking a significant development in a case that has raised concerns over safety and professional conduct within India's premier police training institution.

The accused, Uday Krishna Reddy, was arrested by Hyderabad Police on Wednesday and produced before the Upparpally Court, which ordered 14 days of judicial remand. Following the court's directions, he was shifted to Chanchalguda Central Jail under the security of Attapur Police.

The case was registered on July 18 after a 30-year-old woman trainee IPS officer lodged a complaint alleging that she had been subjected to sexual harassment, intimidation, physical assault, and criminal threats by the accused during their training at the academy.

According to the complaint, the alleged harassment began on June 23, when the accused reportedly sent obscene messages through an instant messaging platform and made inappropriate remarks about the complainant in the presence of fellow trainees. She also alleged that he repeatedly abused her, made comments about her personal life, and tried to intimidate her.

The complainant further alleged that on July 9, Uday Krishna Reddy forcibly took her into his room, pulled her hair, attempted to strangle her, and threatened her with a knife, preventing her from leaving. She also claimed that he secretly recorded a video without her consent and later attempted to blackmail her by threatening to send it to her husband.

Based on the complaint, Attapur Police registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to attempt to commit rape, sexual harassment, stalking, outraging the modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. Police questioned the accused before taking him into custody.

After the FIR was registered, Uday Krishna Reddy denied the allegations through a social media post, describing them as false and baseless. He had also sought legal relief before his arrest.

According to reports, the accused had previously served as a constable in the Andhra Pradesh Police Department before clearing the Civil Services Examination and joining the IPS. The investigation is continuing, and authorities are expected to examine digital evidence, witness statements, and other material as part of the probe.