Telangana HC quashes potency test order against trainee IPS officer
Telangana HC sets aside lower court order for potency test of trainee IPS officer accused of sexual assault; prosecution may file fresh plea if needed.
The Telangana High Court on Wednesday set aside a lower court order that had permitted the Cyberabad police to conduct a potency test on trainee IPS officer M. Uday Krishna Reddy, who is accused of sexually assaulting a fellow trainee.
Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, however, clarified that the ruling would not prevent the prosecution from filing an appropriate petition in accordance with the law if the need arises during the investigation.
The case stems from allegations of stalking, harassment, and sexual assault made by a co-trainee at the national police academy where both were undergoing training. As part of the investigation, the police had sought and obtained a direction from the Third Additional Junior Civil Judge-cum-XXV Additional Judicial Magistrate of First Class at Rajendranagar to subject the accused officer to a potency test.
Challenging that order, the trainee officer filed a criminal petition before the High Court. The judge observed that the prosecution's application was not in consonance with the principles laid down by the Madras and Karnataka High Courts in similar matters.
The court also noted that a separate petition filed by the trainee officer seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) against him is still pending adjudication before the High Court.