Kendrapara: Suspended Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) of Talchua Marine Police Station, Sandhyarani Jena, has approached the Orissa High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the alleged custodial torture of a 58-year-old woman and her son inside the police station in Kendrapara district.

According to sources, Jena filed her anticipatory bail petition before the High Court on June 29 in connection with Talchua Marine Police Station Case No. 124/2026, apprehending arrest in the case.

The case stems from an incident that allegedly occurred on May 25, when Annapurna Mandal and her son, Ananta Kumar Mandal of Giriapahi village under Baghamari panchayat, visited the police station to lodge a complaint over a family dispute.

Victims allege third-degree torture, illegal detention and threats

Instead of registering their complaint, police personnel allegedly assaulted the duo. In her complaint submitted to the Pattamundai Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Annapurna alleged that Inspector Sandhyarani Jena dragged her by the hair, slapped her and wiped off the sindoor from her forehead.

She further alleged that her son was taken into a toilet inside the police station, where he was brutally assaulted by the IIC and a constable. The complaint also claimed that the police attempted to strangulate Ananta during the assault.

The mother and son alleged that they were threatened with false criminal cases if they disclosed the incident to anyone. They also claimed that police seized Ananta's mobile phone and forced both of them to sign blank papers.

According to the complaint, they were illegally detained inside the police station from around 6 pm to 11:40 pm before being released.

Family members later took them home in an auto-rickshaw as they were reportedly unable to walk due to the injuries. The following day, both were admitted to the Rajnagar Community Health Centre, where medical examinations reportedly revealed multiple injury marks on Annapurna's hands and on Ananta's neck, legs, hands and back.

Following public outrage over the allegations, Odisha Police placed Inspector Sandhyarani Jena under suspension. Subsequently, a criminal case was registered against her under Case No. 124/2026 at Talchua Marine Police Station under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 296, 74, 115, 351 and 308, among other serious charges.

Despite the registration of the case, Jena has not been arrested so far, prompting criticism and raising questions over the delay in police action. Her move to seek anticipatory bail before any arrest has further intensified the debate.

The case has also drawn attention due to allegations that the suspended police officer has faced disciplinary action three times in past six years, with critics questioning why she has not yet been taken into custody.

The matter is expected to come up for hearing before the Orissa High Court in the coming days.