High Court Posts Trainee IPS Officer's FIR Quash Petition to July 27

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday deferred to July 27 the hearing on a petition filed by trainee IPS officer Uday Krishna Reddy, who has challenged the FIR registered against him in connection with allegations of sexual harassment, assault, criminal intimidation and digital blackmail involving a fellow trainee officer at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA). The case has drawn considerable attention as it involves probationary officers undergoing training at India's premier police academy, where professional conduct and discipline are held to the highest standards.

The 32-year-old officer was booked by the Attapur Police on July 18 after a complaint was lodged by a 30-year-old woman trainee IPS officer. Seeking to have the criminal proceedings set aside, Uday Krishna Reddy approached the High Court earlier this week. During Wednesday's hearing, the petitioner's counsel sought time to advance detailed arguments, while the government prosecutor requested additional time to obtain instructions from the investigating agency. Accepting the request, the court adjourned the matter until July 27.

According to the complainant, the accused had allegedly been sending sexually explicit messages through an instant messaging platform since June 23. She alleged that he repeatedly made inappropriate remarks about her in the presence of fellow trainees, spread false claims regarding her personal life, and attempted to pressure her into admitting to an alleged relationship with another trainee officer.

The complaint further alleges that on July 9, the accused forcibly stopped her, took her to his room, pulled her hair, attempted to strangle her, threatened her with a knife, and prevented her from leaving. The woman officer also claimed that he secretly recorded a private video without her consent and later sent it to her husband in an attempt to intimidate and blackmail her.

Based on the complaint, the Attapur Police registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to sexual harassment, stalking, criminal force against a woman, criminal intimidation, and outraging a woman's modesty, along with relevant sections of the Information Technology Act concerning the alleged misuse of electronic communication and digital material. The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations are yet to be tested before a court of law.

Meanwhile, Uday Krishna Reddy was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital on July 20 after being found unconscious in an apartment by his brother and friends. Doctors initially suspected that he had consumed a harmful substance, but after conducting a gastric lavage, they reported no abnormal findings and confirmed that his condition is stable.

According to reports, Uday Krishna Reddy had previously served as a constable in the Andhra Pradesh Police Department before clearing the Civil Services Examination and joining the Indian Police Service as a trainee. The outcome of the High Court proceedings on July 27 is expected to determine the immediate legal course of the case, while the police investigation continues independently.