Bhubaneswar witnessed a significant turn of events as Korimili Venkata Sreenivas, a 54-year-old officer from the Indian Air Force (IAF), surrendered in the sub-divisional magistrate’s court on Monday. Sreenivas had been on the run after being accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, who is the daughter of a close family friend.
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The backdrop of the incident traces back to when Sreenivas was on leave from his official posting in Delhi. During this period, he was staying in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha. The alleged assault came to light when the Bhubaneswar police commissionerate registered a case against him on June 28. This action was prompted by a formal complaint lodged by the survivor’s mother, who shares a close friendship with Sreenivas’s wife.
Shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the incident, police officer Shyam Sundar Rao provided a chronological account. He mentioned,
“On June 23, the accused’s family had organized a party at their residence, extending an invitation to the survivor’s mother. She arrived at the party ahead of time, leading Sreenivas to offer assistance in picking up her daughter later. However, upon finding the young girl alone at their residence, Sreenivas allegedly took advantage of the situation and assaulted her.”
Following the grave allegations, Sreenivas evaded the authorities, making it challenging for the police to apprehend him. Rao elaborated on the efforts to locate him, stating,
“Despite our repeated summons, Sreenivas remained unresponsive. Our search operations spanned multiple locations, including his workplace in Delhi, but he remained elusive until his eventual surrender in court.”
After turning himself in, the court proceedings took their course, with the sub-divisional magistrate deciding to remand Sreenivas in judicial custody.
The incident has not only stirred the local community but has also sparked a broader conversation on child safety and the imperative for individuals to be held accountable for their actions, irrespective of their societal or professional stature.
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