Army Officer Accused of Rape Under Pretenses of Marriage in Bhopal

An Army officer, Varun Pratap Singh, is charged with raping a police constable on false marriage promises in Bhopal. Singh, a Lieutenant Colonel, faces charges under sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for deceitful sexual conduct and intimidation. Local police have notified his unit, pending further interrogation or arrest.

An Army officer has been accused of raping a female police constable under the guise of marriage in Bhopal, as reported by local police on Friday.

Lieutenant Colonel Varun Pratap Singh, aged 48, and stationed in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, was booked on Thursday. The charges were made under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 69 for deceitful sexual intercourse and section 351 (2) for criminal intimidation, following a complaint from the 42-year-old victim, according to the First Information Report (FIR).

Bhopal Police Women Security Assistant Commissioner Nidhi Saxena confirmed Singh's rank and stated, "We have informed his unit about the case." She added that if Singh does not present himself for interrogation, an arrest will have to be made.

(With inputs from agencies.)